Clarets plan stock market float

Chairman Barry Kilby and his Turf Moor board see flotation as the only way of bringing in enough money to mount a realistic bid for Premiership status.

A public flotation, with shares up for grabs for major financial institutions, could generate more than £10 million.

The board are still trying to attract new investors into the club, with around £1 million worth of shares remaining unsold following the recent issue.

And flotation is one of the carrots being dangled in front of potential investors.

Kilby said: "We have several scenarios and plans.

"Flotation is there if things went superbly well and we were knocking on the door of the Premiership.

"That's the only way I think we could sustain a force in the Premiership without living hand to mouth.

"It's an option we are promoting to certain people, if they are looking to invest with us."

Earlier this month, vice-chairman Ray Ingleby revealed to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph his own plans for flotation during the long power-struggle.

And the Clarets board is now united behind a three-year plan to gear Burnley up for competing at the highest level.

Kilby added: "Ray Ingleby is very keen on flotation.

"We would have to see how it goes and I don't think it would be an immediate option.

"We would have to have the real prospect of Premiership football. "It only makes sense when you get the massive revenues from television in the Premiership.

"I am really loathe to put a figure on it but a personal opinion would be between £10 and £12 million.

"But it is really a case of how long is a piece of string."

Kilby, met the Clarets Independent Supporters' Association with Ingleby at the Centre Spot for a question and answer session last night.

He has previously stated that Burnley were looking to follow the Watford blueprint for tackling life in the top flight.

And the Vicarage Road club now have their own plans for flotation laid out in a prospectus.

The revelations are part of a new open-door policy regarding the club's plans.

Kilby added: "We are just keeping people informed about what we are trying to do.

"We are not trying to hide anything. If we make mistakes, we make mistakes, but that is the road we want to go down."

Meanwhile, Peter Swan put nine months of injury torment behind him last night when he made his comeback in the reserves at Oldham.

And the veteran defender has thanked his Clarets team-mates for nursing him through it as he played his first competitive game since February.

Swan has not kicked a ball in anger since damaging knee ligaments at Wycombe last season.

But he can now see some light at the end of the tunnel as his patient rehabilitation programme starts to pay off.

"It was great to be back although I felt like I'd never played before," said Swan, who came through 45 minutes unscathed.

"I felt a bit stiff this morning but that's only to be expected. "I decided before the game that I was only going to play the first half because I've been out for so long and I didn't want my muscles to get too tired and leave me vulnerable to pickig up other strains.

"I was a bit tentative but all the lads were magnificent, though, and they really helped me through it.

"The senior players like Ronnie Jepson and Lenny Johnrose were constantly checking if I was okay and giving me a bit of a lift.

"But all the lads helped out in their own individual ways and that meant such a lot to me.

"The manager has got to take a lot of credit for that, though, because he has built up a brilliant team spirit at the club.

"He's got everyone pulling together and looking out for each other.

"But I knew it was only a matter of time before he did that here because he built up a fantastic team spirit at Bury - that's what all our success was built around.

"One of his main aims is to build up a good team spirit and get everyone fighting for the club.

"Whenever he signs a player he always makes sure they have the right kind of character to fit in.

"It's that kind of togetherness which pulled us through against Wigan at the weekend and, hopefully, it will see us right for the rest of the season."

Swan is still likely unlikely to be ready for a first team return for at least a month as he battles to regain his match fitness.

But he's just glad to be playing again after some people wrote him off.

"A lot of people said they didn't think I'd be able to comeback," said Swan.

"There was even some talk around the club from certain people that I was finished.

"But I've managed to prove them wrong and I can now look those people in the eye. "It's going to take a while before I'm knocking on the first team door again and, even then, it will be up to the manager to decide when I'm ready.

"So I'm not setting myself any specific targets other than, perhaps, to play for an hour in the reserves next week."

Paul Smith also made his comeback following a knee problem last night.

Smith has not trained for the last fortnight but he managed to get an hour under his belt before being substituted.

And, provided he feels no adverse reaction, he may be in contention for Saturday's first team fixture with Wycombe.

"He did well considering he's not been training recently," added Swan.

CISA presented the Clarets board with a cheque for £250 towards the Gawthorpe Fund last night.

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