BURNLEY'S investment in a flourishing youth system was today heralded by Vince Overson.

The head of youth development has outlined the urgency for the Clarets to attain Academy status and compete with the bigger clubs in Lancashire and beyond.

Chairman Barry Kilby this week announced that some of the cash generated from Ade Akinbiyi's club record £1.75m sale would go towards boosting a Centre of Excellence that has seen Chris McCann and Kyle Lafferty emerge.

Burnley's youth team have been in remarkable form this season, sweeping all before them in the Alliance League to win 14 of their 16 league games, losing just one.

But the yawning gulf between the haves and have-nots was vividly illustrated this week, when Academy giants Liverpool beat the Clarets 3-0 in the FA Youth Cup with a team assembled from all over the world and costing over £500,000.

And a proud night for the club left Overson determined to raise the bar at Turf Moor for future generations by providing the likes of a state-of-the-art indoor facility.

He insisted: "The backing of the board has been tremendous, even more so now. I know for a fact that other teams at our level don't get similar backing from their board.

"Ours are well aware and enthusiastic about becoming an Academy. They want to take us there, but at the end of the day it's all about finance."

Overson, who oversees all aspects of youth development in a wide ranging role, added: "The reason we need to get to Academy status is because we need to be playing teams of Liverpool's calibre every week.

"That is the next natural step for the club to develop the players.

"It is the lifeblood of the club and when you have Academy status, you will attract better players.

"We are carrying the stigma of being a Centre of Excellence, albeit a good one. But when you have the kudos of Academy status, the players will want to come.

"Academy teams come first for young players and Burnley come way down the list. Nine times out of ten, they will end up elsewhere."

Overson added: "With no disrespect to the other teams, we play at a lower standard. Then we go on the big stage and it's a whole new ball game."