FOOTBALL, notoriously, can be a cruel game. And it's an argument that won't be lost on the Burnley faithful, after the Clarets dropped out of the top six (for only the fourth day this season) by the thinnest of margins.
"One goal" muttered a disappointed Burnley supporter as he left Turf Moor.
"If we'd just scored one more goal, we'd have finished sixth." And of course he was right.
But it was not scoring that has been the problem this season -- only Manchester City, Wolves and Preston outgunned the Clarets -- it was defending.
Significantly, only Gillingham have shipped more goals in the top half of the table.
So rather than bemoan Glen Little's penalty miss at Maine Road or Gareth Taylor's wrongly disallowed efforts against Preston and Wolves, Burnley are left to rue the nine goals conceded against Manchester City, the six against Wolves, and fatally, the three strikes recorded by Grimsby last weekend.
So, as the Clarets' hopes withered and died under brilliant April skies, supporters filed out of Turf Moor reflecting on what might have been, and more importantly, what might be.
Having finished seventh in consecutive seasons, expectations will be for the club to make a bigger impact at the business end of the table 12 months hence. That however, may prove over-ambitious.
The Clarets are due a season of transition, the likes of Ball, Cook, Payton, Ellis, Johnrose, Armstrong and Thomas are not getting any younger and will need replacing.
Yet with so much uncertainty over the ITV digital debacle, Ternent's fighting fund may be seriously restricted, particularly as those players mentioned above are unlikely to command a fee.
And, depending on just how little cash is available to Ternent, we may also have seen the excellent David Johnson play his last game for the club.
Those worrying issues will be resolved over the summer, but after another successful season it's only right to list this term's marvellous memories including: 10 away wins, 70 goals, "King" Arthur Gnohere and his winner at Deepdale, twice topping the table for a few weeks, the double over Preston, David Johnson, flashes of genius from super Glen, Stan taking it on the chin and cracking on, the Clarets' plentiful and vocal away following and, looking ahead to next season, the exciting potential of Robbie Blake.
But, for now, thanks to Stan Ternent, Barry Kilby and the players for another memorable season.
Enjoy the summer.
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