BURNLEY Football Club have revealed they are prepared to open their doors to new investors, as they plot a top flight return.

The Clarets' battle to compete with the Premier League’s smallest budget ultimately failed at the first attempt.

But the club is not giving up hope of a comeback, and a more sustained spell at English football’s top table.

Burnley chief executive Paul Fletcher estimates the club would need to spend between £20million to £30m to achieve their target, and require more than the fortunes of their two main money men to finance it.

Chairman Barry Kilby and operational director Brendan Flood have pumped millions of their personal cash - accrued through the gambling and property markets respectively - into the club they have supported since childhood, but the Clarets were still unable to compete on a financial footing with the established Premier League teams.

However, Fletcher says the club is determined to stick to its roots and limit its search to homegrown benefactors rather than foreign investors.

"Maybe someone will come along who will put massive investment in to the club, without wanting to make a great profit out of the business,” he said.

“Every club is looking for that person. But I wouldn’t want a faceless owner, or a vanity owner - like a Roman Abramovich-type character at Chelsea.

"Would I want an outsider sat in an office on the other side of the world making decision about my club? No.

“I understand supporters would say that’s the wrong way to look at it.

"Yes, it could be fine for the next year or so, but if they vanish the club goes with them.

“What I would like for Burnley is for men or women whose mum or dad took them to Turf Moor when they were kids, got hooked on football, went into business and made millions and are now looking to invest in their team.

“Barry Kilby’s father brought him to the games as a child and he got hooked.

"He invested his hard-earned money into what he calls ‘his club’.

“If there’s a local businessman, or woman, out there who is in a similar mould then we would be prepared to listen to them.”

Fletcher added: “We’ve been on the lookout for the last five to 10 years.

“What’s coming to the forefront now are the different types of investors in football.

“The principle of Burnley owners is that they are all fans of the club and have been for many years.

"You tend to make different decisions if you are that type of person.

“Like Barry, Brendan Flood has put his hard earned money in.

“They make the decisions, and the way I see it they’ve made good decision on behalf of the club.”