Suddenly everyone I meet has a smile back on their face as First Division survival is all but assured.

But amid the euphoria, the question has to be asked - is this now the benchmark for Burnley Football Club?

In the present financial climate, are we now doomed to become another Walsall or Crewe - fighting for survival year after year and yo-yoing between two divisions - or can we bounce back to be a First Division force?

Sadly, unless someone comes up with some cold hard cash, I fear the latter might well be the case.

Stan recently mentioned the way Burnley and Norwich have gone poles apart since the play-off chase both teams had a couple of years ago.

Well the only difference is that Delia Smith has put away her cook book and opened the cheque book, while investment at Turf Moor has almost becoming a swear word.

The club is pleading poverty, which hardly augers well for next season, when the competition will be just as tough, if not tougher.

What Barry Kilby must do now is chase some way - any way - of getting a major benefactor to back his club, or all the good work achieved this year in staying up could just delay the inevitable.

The fans seem to be rallying round in times of need and snapping up season tickets. But I know a lot of them and I know that blind faith does not last forever.

However, that's for the coming months. For now we should bask in the fact survival has been achieved.

It's been a pretty traumatic season for everyone involved with the club - and you would have got good money on Graham Branch being the man to secure two absolutely vital wins.

Every credit to him because he has taken a lot of stick this season - plenty of it justified in my view.

Hopefully, his rare scoring streak can continue at Rotherham this weekend and we can all then settle back in our seats and really enjoy the final game at home to Sunderland - and finish the season in style.