ALASTAIR Campbell has persuaded Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson to jump aboard Burnley's survival bandwagon.

And former Government spin doctor Campbell has vowed to win the support of many more high profile fans to help safeguard the future of the Clarets.

Old Trafford boss Ferguson, one of the most successful managers ever in English football, will join Campbell as a guest speaker at a gala fund-raising dinner at Turf Moor in early March.

Ferguson will also arrive armed with an array of memorabilia to auction and raffle off as the battle to save Burnley Football Club from going into administration goes into overdrive.

Speaking at Turf Moor on Saturday, Campbell said: "I mentioned to Alex that I was involved in an after-dinner speech on March 5 and he said: "count me in", which I think is a fantastic thing to do.

"But he is somebody who is very fond for Burnley and has a soft spot for the club as well as being a great football man."

Campbell added: "There is a chance of more high-profile people getting involved. People in the world I operate in know I support Burnley and a lot have a soft spot - not just football people.

"People want a working-class club like this to succeed, but we do have to be careful. One of the great things about Burnley is that it is not a showy club and we don't want to lose that.

"But if it helps to have high profile people giving expressions of support to Burnley, then I can certainly generate that."

However, Campbell also issued a passionate plea to people in and around Burnley to do their bit for the club by attending games and boosting attendances.

A disappointing number of walk-on fans this season, allied to a drop off in season ticket sales, has left the club losing around £12,000 every home game.

And Campbell, a lifelong fan of the Clarets, urged supporters to flock back and fill Turf Moor to the rafters for this weekend's potentially life-saving fourth round FA Cup clash with Gillingham.

He added: "As somebody who has supported Burnley for a very long time, I want to do what limited amount I can in giving advice in terms of the media and communications in what is potentially a crisis.

"It's the easiest thing in the world for the people of Burnley to say 'why don't the board shovel more money in?', but the reality is this is a community club and the whole community has to come together on this.

"It would be terrible if the club went into administration, but people have to face up to the reality of the financial situation facing a lot of football clubs.

"I will do my bit and even put some money in and I just appeal to anyone else who can help to do so."