DELIGHTED Clarets fans have succeeded in keeping their seats after Burnley Football Club did a U-turn and agreed to keep open the lower tier of Turf Moor's North Stand.

Following a story about supporters' complaints in last night's Lancashire Evening Telegraph, club secretary John Howarth confirmed: "We listened to what the supporters had to say and we reversed the decision.

"Our supporters are our bread and butter and we need to keep them happy. I was bombarded with telephone calls yesterday about the decision so we held meetings and decided to rescind the plan."

Director Clive Holt said the decision to close the area had been a financial one and was made when the club did not know which league it would be in next season.

He said: "We have had such a response from fans wanting the tier to be kept open I hope more will l now decide to buy season tickets in that stand.

There are about 230 season ticket holders in the stand, but because it is rarely full the club said keeping the lower tier open was costing about £2,000 each game.

Joyce Wellock, of Delamere Road, Briercliffe, and friend Jean Rogers, of Briercliffe Road, Burnley, had called on fellow fans who have bought season tickets for the lower tier to write in and get the decision reversed.

She said today: "I am amazed and very, very pleased. I am glad they have come to their senses."

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