GENEROUS Burnley fans are turning down the offer of free Premier League football to pour their money back into the club.

Around 7,000 supporters were set to receive free season tickets for the forthcoming 2009/10 season - the Clarets’ first after promotion - through chairman Barry Kilby’s ‘Premier League Pledge’.

Mr Kilby’s scheme, launched in 2007, offered a refund on season tickets purchased should Burnley return to English football’s top flight within the last two years.

Wade Elliott’s stunning Wembley winner against Sheffield United ended the club’s 33-year exile last month, as Owen Coyle’s men went up via the Championship play-offs.

Although Premier League status meant a £60million windfall for the Clarets, the Premier League Pledge meant an automatic £2million payout.

However, a section of fans want to reward the club for a memorable season by ploughing that cash into it’s future.

“We’ve had a number of people tell us to leave their money in the club and invest it in youth development, others have asked us to turn their money into shares, even though it would only buy one,” said chief executive Paul Fletcher.

“Some have had other ideas, so we are looking at all the different options and will be writing to the 7,000 season ticket holders in July asking them to indicate what they would like us to do with their money.

“Of course, anyone who does want their money back will get it. This is not the club stalling on refunds, we just have to come up with the best way to proceed following the letters we’ve had from fans.

“The chairman has taken this very seriously and we need to get it spot on.”

Given the tough economic climate, it would be unexpected for people to turn down the chance to be refunded hundreds of pounds.

But Mr Fletcher added: “Nothing surprises me at Burnley Football Club because it’s a family club and there is a lot of sentiment about the place.

“There has been so much emotion since the win at Wembley, and wouldn’t it be nice if the fans who left their money in the club to say ‘thanks’ helped to bring the next Jay Rodriguez through the youth ranks.”

Alan Beecroft, Colne Clarets chairman, said: “It is a grand gesture - there is no two ways about it.

“Everyone is not going to be able to do it, it will be up to each person’s individual finances in the current economic climate. But it is the kind of thing you can applaud.”