BURNLEY businessman Derek Gill has launched a furious attack on the Burnley board of directors and warned: "The club has no future under the current board."

Despite an upturn in fortunes on the field under new boss Chris Waddle, Gill says he fears for Burnley's long-term prospects under the leadership of the five-man board.

Mr Gill, a one-time major shareholder in the club and a Turf Moor director for three-and-a-half years, rapped: "In my opinion Burnley's basic problems lies with the current board of directors and has done for many years.

"Just look at the manner in which they treat the loyal fans and shareholders. The club is run like a semi-secret society.

"I've said it for years and I will say it again - the club will never be put straight unless there is a radical re-structuring of the board of directors.

"The communication aspect is a deep worry. They tell the fans the absolute minimum when they should be welcoming these people.

"That is absolutely outrageous in this day and age when football is such a huge entertainment business.

"The level of support that Burnley attracts is out of this world and unique for a club in the Second Division, so to treat the fans with disdain is totally scandalous." Mr Gill said he would not consider a return to Burnley under the current circumstances.

"I still have a guilt-complex over the way I left Burnley because I left the club in the hands of people I had absolutely no confidence in."

He added: "We hear that the manager Chris Waddle has no money to spend.

"It seems they've got themselves into a situation were they have an uncontrollable wage bill.

"If that is proved correct, that is another deep worry because it is a situation that will be hard to put right in the future.

"Look at the furore caused at the annual general meeting a couple of years ago when Basil Dearing resigned.

"The whole situation was engineered to try and get Clive Holt out - but he stood his ground.

"At that meeting we were promised faithfully that Clive Holt would stand for re-election the following year.

"Of course nothing happened and that is treating shareholders with complete contempt."

Gill, though, praised the efforts of director Holt.

"Clive is the only one who seems to be well regarded by the fans," he added.

"He appeared to be the driving force behind the Turf Moor redevelopment.

"He has put an awful lot of effort into the running of the club and a lot of fans think he is the only one with any real direction."

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