BURNLEY Football Club's most influential fan was prevented from attending a commemoration dinner at Turf Moor last night because his boss Tony Blair gave him too much work.

Downing Street press secretary Alastair Campbell was all set to go to the meal commemorating the tenth anniversary of the Clarets' last-minute escape from dropping out of the Football League.

But at lunchtime yesterday he had to give up the battle to go and give his apologies in a telephone call.

In an exclusive interview Mr Campbell told the Lancashire Evening Telegraph: "I was desperate to go and am very disappointed.

"I fully intended to make it, even yesterday morning. But in the end there was just too much to do.

"There were various events concerning the Prime Minister last night and today which made it impossible.

"I was desperate to be there because it commemorated the tenth anniversary of the most important day in Burnley Football Club's history."

Instead, Mr Campbell sent a message to the dinner, which recalled the victory over Leyton Orient which stopped one of the Football League's most historic clubs dropping out of the League.

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