Sports Exclusive, by Tony Dewhurst

THE board of directors made no attempt to persuade Adrian Heath to stay on as manager of Burnley Football Club.

In a sensational interview with the Lancashire Evening Telegraph tonight, the former Clarets boss admitted he would have "seriously considered" remaining as Turf Moor manager - had the board tried to persuade him.

A rift between the new Everton number two and the Burnley board almost certainly contributed to his decision to quit.

"I sat and pondered on my decision to leave Burnley since Howard Kendall asked me to go to Everton on Tuesday," said Heath.

"The situation had rumbled on for nearly three days and yet I didn't hear anything from Burnley.

"If a member of the Burnley board of directors had telephoned me and tried their best to get me to stay then I genuinely would have considered remaining as manager.

"If somebody had spoken to me and said: 'Is it money, contracts or are you unhappy about something?' then we could have sat down and talked.

"Instead, Burnley did not contact me and that shocked me a little bit.

"That aspect, more than any other, contributed to my decision to leave Burnley for Everton."

Heath made an emotional return to Everton yesterday as he linked up with mentor Howard Kendall at Goodison Park.

But I understand the ex-Clarets chief was left "bemused and angry" after an ill-tempered Turf Moor board meeting last Monday. Sources say that cash, which Heath understood had been promised for transfer targets, was withdrawn.

A club source told me: "The manager went into that meeting fully expecting to hear that he had the cash to let him bring in three or four new players to complete his plans for next season. He believed the sum in question had been agreed and that he could go out and get the players the next day.

"They were two First Division players, an experienced Dutch player and a Premiership striker.

"When he sat down he was told he had misunderstood the financial situation.

"The manager is not a fool and that really angered him and, subsequently, he left the meeting very unhappy indeed.

"Somebody had moved the goalposts and the following day he had to telephone at least one manager to give him back word over a transfer.

"He was desperately disappointed with the situation and a little embarrassed."

Asked about Burnley's future, Heath said he believed that Burnley had reached an important crossroads.

"But sooner, rather than later, Burnley are going to have to ask themselves where the club is going because they have definitely reached an important crossroads," he said.

"They have to sit down and evaluate, plan, and say where they want to be in five years time.

"They should be looking forward rather than what has gone on in the past at the club. "Because, in the present circumstances, I don't believe the club can realise the expectations of the fantastic supporters at Burnley. "The Premiership and Division One is a fast, runaway train and I'm just a bit fearful the club will never catch up if they don't have a real go at it soon. By that I mean financially.

"The one thing that big money gives you is a greater chance of promotion. It does not guarantee you that but it gives you a head start.

"Have a look down the road at Wigan Athletic and see what is happening there. They got out of the Third Division by buying better players and they are set to do it again this season.

"Burnley could cope with a much higher stage of football. It just needs that big spark to give it the push.

"I hope that happens for the sake of the brilliant fans at Turf Moor."

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