THE ball is back in the Ray Ingleby court as Peter Shackleton's laboured bid for Burnley Football Club peters out, writes NEIL BRAMWELL.

Ingleby's latest bid was officially rejected months ago after the Burnley board asked for several more promises over the future of the club. But with Shackleton's backers unable to come up with the goods, the club is almost back at square one in their search for new cash.

Ingleby and his own backers remain keen to take control of the club.

But something has to give. It is unlikely that any one member of the five-man board is going to 'jump ship' and sell their shares to Ingleby. There is a belief that could be seen as acting against the best interests of other shareholders.

Another option for board members who have lost patience with the Shackleton saga would be to resign and then pledge their support for Ingleby.

However, even that could be seen to have legal consequences.

Ingleby has been sitting in the shadows waiting for developments.

But it now seems clear that the board could be willing to start fresh talks with the New York-based tycoon.

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