ADRIAN Heath (pictured) launches Burnley's Second Division revival mission at Bristol City tomorrow.
And today he sent this message to the Turf Moor faithful as he prepares to lead the Clarets 48 hours after his dramatic appointment.
"I'm so ambitious to see this club do well. I want to give the fans something to cheer about and something to be proud of," said the new boss.
"Tomorrow is the start of a new era for Burnley and I want to get this club back on track as quickly as possible.
"I just would not have left Sheffield United for any other club. The lure of Burnley was too great to resist."
And the Clarets player-manager is banking on a winning start at Ashton Gate. Burnley will be bidding to stop the rot after taking just one point from their last six league games.
But he warned his team: "Too many players are underachieving at the moment. Hopefully, I will get something more out of them.
"You get respect from players from treating them properly. That's the way I will be treating them. If they give me their all then there will not be a problem.
"If they don't, and they don't want to do it my way, then they can go somewhere else and play. The players will be under no illusions as to who will be in charge."
Heath took charge of his first training session this morning before the Turf Moor party left for the West Country.
Goalkeeper Marlon Beresford appears certain to start his first senior game in nearly two months.
The Turf Moor number one successfully negotiated 90 minutes in Wednesday's Pontins League draw against Manchester City at Witton Albion.
He was named in the Clarets squad today and I expect him to take over from deputy Wayne Russell. Explained physio Andy Jones: "Marlon has suffered no reaction to the reserve game and he is fit to play tomorrow.
But Heath already faces a mini-injury crisis as he prepares the Clarets squad for tomorrow's showdown.
But there is a major doubt hanging over the fitness of big defender Peter Swan. Swan has not trained all week following problems with an ankle injury and he is rated 'very doubtful.'
If Swan fails a fitness test his place is likely to go to skipper Jamie Hoyland who missed last weekend's 1-0 home defeat to Blackpool with a knee problem.
Bristol are currently enjoying their best spell of the season under Joe Jordan and recent form launched them into within striking distance of a play-off berth.
The Burnley A team entertain Manchester United A at Gawthorpe tomorrow. The B team play Bolton Wanderers B at Wanderers' Euxton Training ground near Leyland. Both fixtures kick-off at 11.00 am.
Reserve team coach Harry Wilson and youth team chief Terry Pashley will continue as part of Adrian Heath's backroom staff after Clive Middlemass was appointed as the number two until the end of the season.
Tomorrow's game at Bristol City is all pay on the turnstiles. Clarets fans should the 4,741 capacity all-seater Winterstoke Road End (Covered seats behind the goals). Winterstoke Road. Adults £10 Children £4.50. OAP £5.50.
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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