RAY Ingleby has made an offer which he hopes will earn him a role at Burnley Football Club.

But it remains to be seen if it is considered acceptable enough to gain the America-based businessman a seat on the Turf Moor board.

"He is still expressing an interest. It's an offer but it's quite complicated," said chairman Barry Kilby.

Ingleby's UK advisor, David Parry, added: "We are talking about a good sum of money but he's not going to be putting in as much money as Barry Kilby because he is not going to have control.

"Ray wants to be involved and has made an offer of the extent of rights that he will take up. I hope Mr Kilby does get Ray on board."

It would appear that Ingleby hasn't committed himself to buying his full allocation of shares in the Clarets' on-going right issue and may be seeking a compromise deal.

And the latest twist in the 'will-he, won't he tale' needed to be studied by Kilby today before he responds to Ingleby's latest proposals which were faxed to him last night.

Ingleby's current shareholding entitles him to buy £1.4 million worth of new shares in the rights issue. In return for that investment in the club, the Clarets directors have promised him a seat on the board.

But Ingleby has taken some time to try and put a package together and today's developments suggest that kind of cash may not be in place. Kilby, who is putting £3 million into the club via the issue, has consistently said he would like Ingleby to take up his share option which would go a long way towards guaranteeing the 100 per cent success of the scheme which could raise £5.75 million for the Clarets.

The recently appointed chairman has also said he has a figure in his mind which he would consider an acceptable investment in return for a board seat from Ingleby, who is yet to put any money into the club's coffers.

However, it still remains to be seen if the two parties can reach an agreement to finally decide whether or not Ingleby - who previously tried to buy a controlling interest in the club - will have an input into the Clarets' future.

If he doesn't, there will be a shortfall to make up when the issue closes for existing shareholders on January 26. But Kilby has spoken with a number of other would-be investors and with director Clive Holt also pledging to increase his holding, then the 'Ingleby money' may be found from other sources.

Meanwhile, Kilby has knocked down rumours that Burnley are to leave their Turf Moor home.

Stories have circulated that the Clarets are to re-locate to land at Padiham power station but that's news to the chairman. "Categorically no. We haven't invested this kind of money in the infrastructure of Turf Moor to move on," he said.

On the playing front, Glen Little could provide the buoyant Clarets with a further tonic for Saturday's visit of Chesterfield.

The winger is on his way back from a double hernia operation and has put himself in line for a recall after seven games on the sidelines. "He has a chance. We'll see how he does in training for the rest of the week but there's a chance," confirmed Clarets' boss Stan Ternent, who will be without Mark Robertson due to international duty with the Australian under-23 squad.

Vinnie Jones has been handed a free transfer by Queen's Park Rangers but Ternent won't be making a move for the Welsh international after signing Micky Mellon to bolster his midfield.

Ternent had enquired about Jones but turned instead to Mellon, who made an impressive debut last Saturday following his £350,000 transfer from Tranmere Rovers.

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