BURNLEY are on course to better last year's total of season-ticket sales, with the fans rallying round Stan Ternent's side after their fighting finish to the Second Division campaign.

Last year's sales totalled 6,300 and with tomorrow being the final day for supporters to claim their own seats for next season, general manager Andrew Watson revealed the club were confident of beating that number.

"Expectations are going to be high among our supporters following the 11-match unbeaten run at the end of last season," he said.

"And we are hoping to beat last season's figure.

"The beauty for supporters is that they get the best discounts at the moment, saving up to £80 on their tickets which is the equivalent of five extra games.

"While tomorrow is the last day for renewing their own seats, the discount period has been extended. The response from the supporters so far has been absolutely superb."

Burnley are launching an advertising campaign in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph tonight, aimed at boosting season-ticket sales even further (see page 50).

Although the club would not reveal exact details of sales so far, they remain confident of beating the total for 1998-99 and totting up the best figure for a few years.

The new general manager has only been in his job for a few weeks but he added: "I am told that figure (6,300) has been fairly steady over the past couple of years but we hope to improve on it."

Burnley's players will welcome the continued backing of the club's fans who will be looking for a flying start from their side after the manner in which they finished last season. And manager Stan Ternent said: "That's good to know, I am really pleased people are buying their season tickets. It's very important to us."

As well as drawing up plans to strengthen his squad, Ternent has also been working hard to complete details of his pre-season programme and expects to be able to announce the line-up in the next few days.

He has already arranged attractive home games against Premiership sides Everton and Sunderland, which should draw decent crowds to Turf Moor, and he is concentrating on other "local" opposition.

"I don't think there will be anything more than a couple of hours away so the fans should be able to see plenty of us before we start the season," he said.

PETE OLIVER LOOKS BACK ON THE CLARETS SEASON 1998-99: SHOOT TO PAGES 48-49

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.