YOUNG footballers are calling for extra time from Burnley FC to discuss an alleged snub when a new junior club was set up.

Junior Clarets feel they were left out by their big brother team after it took away their right to supply mascots and ball boys and awarded the privilege to its own new club, Junior Claret and Blues.

Junior Clarets was set up in the 1970s and over the years managers of the young teams have spotted talent and given Turf Moor a chance to take on the up-and-coming stars including John Mullin, Ian Duerden and Jamie Webster.

It runs eight football teams and the highlight for many players was being picked as mascot.

Chairman for nine years Ken Rides said: "It is a bit of a kick in the teeth. We are upset at the way it was done because we just received a letter from the club saying this is how it is. "They did not invite us in to have a chat and agree what was going to happen. We will still work with the club and we want to keep the relationship but I would like them to have a rethink and include the Junior Clarets."

"The club said it wanted to have more control over who was picked as mascots and ball boys and they wanted to make sure they were local, but we always involved the club's players in picking the names of mascots out of a hat and the ball boys were picked from those who regularly attended matches.

"We don't see why we can't run the two clubs together."

But Angela Booth, junior co-ordinator of the new club which will start at the end of July, said: "We are purely a supporters club and anyone who wants to play football we recommend Junior Clarets.

"We have junior teams throughout the area and they all provide mascots for games. It was just that Junior Clarets provided more than most.

"I would be willing to discuss the matter further if Junior Clarets contact me."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.