BRIAN LAWS’ future as Burnley manager was last night still undecided because of a boardroom split.

We can reveal chairman Barry Kilby and his directors were locked in talks at Turf Moor for four hours on Monday night – but no agreement was reached about whether the former Sheffield Wednesday boss should stay in charge.

The Lancashire Telegraph understands Mr Kilby wants to give Laws 10 games in the Championship to see if he can inspire another promotion campaign.

And the Clarets' chief is believed to have the support of one other director.

But the remaining seven, including operational director Brendan Flood, want a fresh start and could force the issue by the end of the week.

Kilby and Flood both interviewed Laws for the job in January and were unanimous in their decision to appoint him to replace Owen Coyle.

But both parties have now gone head to head in the boardroom.

Laws was odds-on with bookmakers for the chop before Sunday's visit of Tottenham Hotspur, after picking up just seven points from the previous 17 games.

Conceding 10 goals in games against Manchester City and Liverpool at Turf Moor looked to be the final straw for Laws, despite a first Premier League away win at Hull City being sandwiched between those games.

But Laws redeemed himself in Mr Kilby's eyes by engineering a 4-2 win over Spurs on the final day of the season.

But the chairman and major sahre holder seems to be in the minority on the board.

Phil Brown, who is expected to be relieved of his duties as Hull City manager today after spending the last two months on gardening leave, and Swansea City manager Paulo Sousa have already been tipped as targets to replace Laws.