THE closed season can often be a frustrating period for football writers, particularly when transfer news is thin on the ground.

But if the break from the rigours of regular Championship fixtures is good for one thing – other than an opportunity to recharge the batteries – it’s the chance to sit down and chew the fat with a few characters in the game.

In recent days I have had the pleasure of the company of former favourites Paul Fletcher and Roger Eli, delving into the details of their lives in and out of football.

Both offered fascinating insights into their era and beyond.

Eli’s story starts on Monday, so I’ll try not to give too much away.

But there was something in particular that he said which struck a chord with me.

Times have changed, football has rolled with it and in doing so has created a gap between supporters and fans, and Burnley is no exception to a general trend.

In referring to his Turf Moor days, Eli spoke about getting to the ground at least an hour early on matchdays just so he could spend time chatting to supporters who were waiting patiently to greet them at the players’ entrance, as they did every home game. He even knew some by name.

I can’t imagine many, if any, going out of their way to do similar now.

But what are the reasons for that?

Perhaps it is down to players’ own preference. Some like to keep themselves to themselves, some require complete focus before a game.

But even afterwards they tend to take nothing more than a few minutes to pop more of a scribble than a signature on a few programmes before jumping into their car and disappearing into the night.

Some of the distance can be put down to inflated incomes.

Footballers were once men of the people. They mixed in similar circles and plenty lived in and around their club’s community.

These days the majority of fans who pay to watch their team can only dream of the lifestyles their heroes enjoy, invariably not just out of town but out of the region altogether.

Modern day footballers don’t have a monopoly on these habits, of course, as Eli explains: “When I was at Leeds I remember Kevin Keegan – with his curly mop, white suit and white shoes.

“He went all the way round the ground to get away from the supporters and get into his car. But, well, he was Kevin Keegan.

“You don’t do that when you’re playing for Burnley though, not when you’re playing in the Championship and you need those supporters.”

Manager Sean Dyche is an advocate of the club being part of the community and encourages interaction with supporters.

Often this involves scheduled visits to schools and local businesses with players practically working on a rota basis. There are rarely volunteers, although Kieran Trippier was a good sport when he was sent to work in a Nelson fish and chip shop last season and put a fair shift in.

It’s a notable gesture from the club, and an important one.

But maybe more could be done to bridge that gap if the set-up was less sanitised; if players and staff felt more accessible through the local media.

I’m not saying we should go back to the age of local reporters travelling on team buses, but a move back towards common sense communication would be start.

Whereas once – not all that long ago – you could pick up the phone to a player without prior arrangement, or even go down to the training ground or the club for a chat, these days it is often the case that all press requests go through a club’s media department.

That is certainly the situation at Burnley, where any external interviews are even recorded by the club.

This may seem like a personal agenda, and perhaps in a way it is. My job would certainly be easier, and possibly more enjoyable, if the rules were more relaxed.

I understand the need to be protective. As assets players have become more valuable so there has to be an increased element of control.

But there are bigger benefits to the club feeling less of a closed shop, and they need to be explored to help encourage the feelgood factor back to Burnley.