FORMER government spin doctor Alastair Campbell has vowed to spearhead a crucial survival campaign for Burnley Football Club.

The extent of the club's perilous plight has been spelt out by chief executive Dave Edmundson, who revealed losses of around £12,000 per match.

The Clarets face a 'black hole' next month, when the season ticket fund that has kept the club afloat during the present crisis runs dry to leave an annual shortfall of £700,000.

With the clock ticking, club officials and the bank are thrashing out ways of restructuring debts, which including reported annual losses of more than £2.5m for the last financial year and a similar projected loss this year.

And lifelong Clarets fan Campbell, the former communications director of Prime Minister Tony Blair, has given his backing to support the beleaguered club.

Campbell said: "The club has serious financial problems and have asked me to help them out in terms of advice on how they might raise funds and communicate the situation to fans.

"I am more than happy to do that and I'll do whatever I can."

Campbell, who will host a fund-raising dinner in March at Burnley, added: "I don't know the full details, but I know things are serious and it's always easy for supporters to say 'why can't the board keep piling in the money?'. It isn't as easy as that and the chairman, Barry Kilby, has put an awful lot of money into the club in his time.

"It's a pretty tough market once you get outside the really rich clubs. It's a very difficult, harsh environment and the point I will make above all else is that, particularly in a place like Burnley, the football club is such an important part of the community and it's important that whoever can help rallies round.

"There is a fantastic feeling of support and warmth towards the club in the community and we have seen that down the years. I am sure people will respond generously to an appeal of this sort."

Edmundson today renewed his appeal for supporters to return to Turf Moor, insisting an immediate increase in 'walk-on' fans was absolutely vital.

He claimed avoiding relegation and weathering the financial maelstrom would be one of the greatest achievements in the club's history and hammered home the message by warning: "Burnley Football Club is fighting for its life."

He said: "The relationship between the club and its supporters is facing its greatest imaginable challenge. We are fighting for the life of Burnley Football Club and have to have some money coming in.

"We fall into a black hole in February before we start the next season ticket drive and we are losing in the region of £10-12,000 per match.

"If you project that forward - even though we have some big games to come - we will lose £345,000 by the end of the season."

Edmundson, who kick-started the 'Walk Up For Burnley' campaign last month with a 10-mile walk to work, conceded: "I know the brand image of Burnley is not at its healthiest, but this is not the time to be apathetic or critical of players, staff or anything else. I am appealing to supporters to put it behind them for now and address the real issue that if you want the football club to be here for your grandsons and their sons and daughters - come now.

"It is not that it will exist for perpetuity. The money runs out in February and administration then becomes a course of option.

"We have to realise it is something this club might have to face, but action to avoid it is where we will achieve success and I need the people.

"I am confident fans will rally to our side, but right now your football club needs you!"