BURNLEY will be tripping the light fantastic with the installation of a new state of the art floodlight system at Turf Moor.

It means the removal of all FOUR floodlight towers at Turf Moor - a landmark in the town for the past 39 years.

They were opened in December 1957 with a friendly match versus Blackburn Rovers but the lights will be switched off for the final time at the end of the current Division Two campaign.

The new floodlights will be mounted on the front of the new North Stand and two single 25 metre poles positioned at each end of the Bob Lord Stand.

I can reveal that the Clarets have signed a deal with Musco Lighting Europe Limited. The company - based in Newark - are specialists and world leaders in sports and stadium lighting.

Musco's system was hand-picked for the World Cup final at the Pasadena Rosebowl in 1994 and Wolverhampton Racecourse, the first floodlit racecourse in Britain. The firm have already successfully installed new systems at Sheffield United, Darlington, Plymouth Argyle and Lincoln City.

"The new lighting system will meet the latest requirements of football in the UK and the Premier League and we are very pleased to tie the deal up," said Turf Moor ground director Clive Holt.

"We have had a lot of discussions over the past few months and we feel this system offers us the best quality. The lighting levels on the pitch will be in excess of double what is being achieved from the current system."

The lighting system is another giant step in the £6 million redevelopment of Turf Moor into a 20,000 plus all-seater stadium.

The new 8,700 capacity North Stand is already scheduled to be open by early April with a new stand on the Bee Hole Lane End expected to follow.

Loan signing Jimmy Glass made his Clarets debut in last night's exciting 3-3 Pontins League draw against Grimsby Town.

The Crystal Palace goalkeeper signed on a month's loan yesterday and will be in the Clarets squad for the weekend trip to Brentford. The Clarets fielded 21-year-old midfield Ged Kielty from Premiership Manchester City.

Former Claret Mike Phelan has left First Division West Brom to take up the post of reserve team coach at Norwich City.

Crewe Alexandra missed a golden opportunity to move to top of the table when they lost 2-1 at Bradford City last night.

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