RAY Ingleby today claimed that Burnley Football Club attempted to slap a gagging order on his final bid to take control at Turf Moor.

The New York-based tycoon was angry at suggestions that the latest talks had broken down because he refused to sign a confidentiality agreement.

And Ingleby's right hand man David Parry stressed that his company's recent share price dip had no bearing on his decision to stop his efforts to buy the club.

Ingleby made his final offer of £3 million to buy 20,000 unissued shares at the start of July.

But discussions between respective lawyers soon hit problems. Clarets director Bob Blakeborough said: "It was hoped that we were going to be able to speak to him but the absence of a confidentiality agreement was a stumbling block.

"My attitude is that doors should always remain open to anything that would be of good to the club."

Parry said: "We were willing to sign something to say we would not reveal any privileged information.

"And we said we would sign a confidentiality letter providing it only ran for a limited period while the talks took place.

"We did not want a sign an open-ended gagging order which would prevent any progress.

"I do not want to get into a slanging match with any of them.

"But the facts are there for all to see."

Parry described suggestions that problems at Ingleby's New York company Caribiner were behind the decision as "absolute nonsense".

He added: "How could the Caribiner share price have anything to do with the decision? "It is not much different now than when the £3 million offer was made a month ago.

"Ray Ingleby's wealth is not just invested in Caribiner."

Meanwhile, Burnley faced Rochdale at Spotland in their final pre-season work-out today with Andy Cooke relieved not to be waiting for his first goal.

While results don't mean anything at this stage of the season strikers like to get quickly into the groove and Cooke, top scorer at Turf Moor with 20 goals last season, is happy to have found the net twice already.

"Before you start playing you think when is the first goal going to come," he admitted.

"You seem to be working harder and harder. It's always hard in pre-season getting your fitness and goals seem hard to come by.

"So it was good to get one in the first game and then against at Halifax. It takes that bit of pressure off so it's good to keep on scoring."

While the Clarets' opening fixture at Dawlish was little more than a practice game, last Saturday's game at Halifax was more like the real thing.

Cooke showed his predatory instincts are in good order and was sharp again in mid-week when only the woodwork and Morecambe keeper Andy Banks stopped him getting on the scoresheet again.

He was without regular partner Andy Payton at Sotland today but Payton expects to return to training on Monday after picking up a hamstring injury at Halifax.

And Chris Brass will also be fit for the start of the season next Saturday after sitting out today's game as a precaution after picking up a groin strain.

Peter Oliver will be on the panel of a Radio Lancashire Fans' Forum along with Stan Ternent and Sam Ellis in the Centre Spot at Turf Moor on Monday between 7.30pm and 9pm.

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