PASSIONATE football fans Alastair Campbell and Tony Livesey are to help kick-off a new trust tonight in a bid to secure the future of Burnley Football Club.

Football chiefs in charge of the launch of the Clarets Trust have enlisted the help of the two celebrity supporters to drum up support for membership.

The trust is a company set up by supporters who pay to become members and stakeholders in the company -- therefore raising extra revenue for the club.

It follows in the footsteps of other successful trusts already established at clubs, with Oldham, Bury and Bradford also being run by a trust and helping to stave off the threat of their clubs going under.

The Turf Moor Trust was set up after the club spent two years struggling to fight off administration.

But at the start of the season the club announced it was no longer under threat --- although it still has a long way to go to help their financial recovery.

The former Government spin-doctor and the newspaper editor, now a local radio presenter too, will be sharing the stage along with the evening's MC Jeff Brown after the Burnley v Crewe home-game.

During the 90 minute curtain raiser, both are due to speak as well as being question masters for an entertaining Clarets Trivia Quiz.

Tony Scholes, a member of the trust's working group, said: "If it wasn't for the creation of a trust at some clubs then they would have gone out of existence.

"We are the 118th club in England, Scotland and Wales to set up a trust with eight clubs being run by one.

"It is open to anybody who wants to get involved with the aim being to ensure the club's future.

"The next stage is to have a steering group which will be democratically elected at the next meeting. We hope to make this a real success story for Burnley and I hope it will continue to grow when I am not around." There will Also be a five-a-side game to be held in the Leisure Centre starting at 6.30pm with a trophy donated by former Claret Billy Hamilton and named in memory of popular blind Burnley supporter Shaun Parker, who died earlier this year.

Bidding has raised in the region of £600 for the Trust with ex-Clarets expected to line up including Vince Overson, Phil Malley, Chris Scott, Derek Scott, Chris Pearce, Jamie Hoyland and Ashley Hoskin.

The main launch itself is to take place in the James Hargreaves Suite, starting at 7.30pm. There will be a host of ex-Clarets in attendance with some taking the stage to regale those present with past stories.

Others attending include the Mayor and the Mayoress of Burnley. Anybody wanting to attend tonight's launch is invited to do so. Membership forms will be available and there will be representatives around to process memberships.

Membership is £10 for adults, £7.50 for pensioners and £5 for children.