BURNLEY have left the cage door open for rugby league's Keighley Cougars to ground-share with the Clarets at Turf Moor.

The go-ahead Yorkshire club are aiming to fast-track their way into the lucrative Super League - and see a move to Turf Moor's all-seater stadium as their number one target.

Cougars millionaire boss Carl Metcalfe has mooted the project but Burnley are still awaiting specific proposals.

"I've spoken to the Keighley chairman, but we've not had any concrete proposals from Keighley, either written or verbal," confirmed Burnley director Bob Blakeborough.

"They clearly have their hearts set on the Super League and see our facilities as a way to achieve that goal.

"If they puruse the idea we will listen to their proposals with interest and then see where we go from there." The club have confirmed that they are prepared to change its name to Pennine Cougars in a bid to to win entry into the league's top flight summer league.

Keighley have already abandoned plans to bring the 6,500 capacity Lawkholme Lane ground up to Super League standard after negotiations with the owners broke down.

The club say they have the backing of Super League chief executive, Maurice Lindsay, to push ahead with the proposals to move to Burnley.

If a deal is struck, it would prove a major cash injection for the Clarets who have invested heavily over the past year in building two new stands and re-developing Turf Moor into a 22,500 all-seater stadium.

Burnley Independent Supporters Club secretary Dave Wynne will be handing out membership forms at the Park View public house before tonight's game.

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