JUST when it looked as though the threat of strike action had been cleared from football, it appears to be a possibility again.

This time it is not the big wage earning players who are ready to walk out - it is the mascots.

And Burnley mascots Bertie and Bumble Bee are hoping that as in the players' dispute, sense will prevail.

The threatened walkout centres around the new code of conduct introduced by the FA - which includes rules such as 'no mooning' - following a couple of high profile incidents involving Bury mascot Robbie the Bobby.

Bertie admitted: "There has been a bit of bother but it is all good fun. We are just doing our best to entertain people and bring a bit of fun to football.

"It is a question of principles and we just want to do our best and get the crowd going so they get behind the team."

Both Bertie and Bumble are looking forward to their involvement in tomorrow's big game when they will renew rivalries with the Deepdale Duck ahead of the top of the table clash.

"Like the players there is competition between us on the pitch but we will meet up in the bar after for a bit of nectar and stale bread," said Bertie.

"There will be more than 5,000 Burnley fans over there and so the atmosphere should be great. The bigger the crowd the better we like it."

As yet there is no indication that the mascots will be holding a ballot over industrial action and Gordon Taylor will not be lending his support.

But for now the only strikes Bertie and Bumble want to see are on the North End goal tomorrow.