BURNLEY Football Club chairman Frank Teasdale today maintained his silence on the Turf Moor takeover saga.

Mr Teasdale has been unable to arrange a meeting with any of the three interested parties - tycoon Ray Ingleby, a consortium fronted by Apax Partners and a mystery third bidder with business interests in Europe and North America.

Clarets director Bernard Rothwell confirmed: "We haven't put dates down. There are no meetings planned.

"The chairman is certainly not sitting on his backside as some people seem to be suggesting.

"He's trying to tie the ends together.

"We are putting as much pressure as we possibly can - not out of a panic situation but in a businesslike manner."

Contrary to rumours flying around Turf Moor, Mr Ingleby was not at Saturday's 2-0 win over Watford.

And Mr Teasdale has not sold his shares in the club.

Ingleby has remained in America while his UK representative David Parry visits Australia on Ingleby's behalf.

The board are, though, in constant contact with Ingleby himself and met the multi-millionaire before Christmas.

Mr Rothwell also rubbished reports that Ingleby had targeted former Everton boss Joe Royle as a possible replacement.

He said: "I know nothing whatsoever about it.

"There's no intention to reconsider Chris Waddle's position at this moment in time.

"It would be wrong to do so with the negotiations that are going on."

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