DISGRUNTLED Burnley fans will turn their backs on the Turf Moor directors in a spectacular silent protest.

Thousands of supporters are being urged to show their dissatisfaction with the Burnley board by turning away from the pitch for two minutes during the Claret's home match against Crewe on February 10.

Organisers say the backs-to-the-ball demonstration is aimed at showing directors that fans will "no longer tolerate being treated like third class citizens" and that their voice must be heard.

They say their display is not against the players or even the manager but state they have been forced to turn against board members because they refuse to listen to complaints over the running of the club and have treated fans in an "ignorant, patronising and dismissive" manner.

The action group say influential businessmen, fanzine editors and representatives of all kinds of supporters' groups, including members of Colne Clarets, have given their backing to the protest. Spokesman Dave Cooper, editor of Who Ate All The Pies fanzine, said: "We are not asking for any sackings, simply for the board to meet representatives of the fans. That is not too much to ask."

The group are calling for a massive turn-out of fans to embarrass Turf Moor bosses and show the strength of feelings on the terraces.

One said: "It will be impossible for the board to ignore us all after such a demonstration which will attract national publicity.

"And for the remaining 88 minutes of the game, we will roar our full support as always.

"We are certainly not being disloyal."

The demonstration will add to the woes of the under-fire board, beset by turmoil and in-fighting in recent weeks.

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