BURNLEY bosses have 250,000 reasons to cheer Sheffield United on to promotion later this month.

For the Clarets stand to gain up to £1/4m if Neil Warnock's side hold off the challenge from Championship rivals Watford, Leeds United and fast-improving Crystal Palace in the closing six games of the season.

The cash boost would form part of the £1.75m deal that took star striker Ade Akinbiyi to Bramall Lane in January.

Burnley were paid £1.5m of that club record fee up front, with the remainder split into two £125,000 payments - the first to be paid out on promotion and a second, six-figure sum up for grabs should the Blades remain in the Premiership for a second season.

And with cash-strapped Burnley looking to strengthen their squad in the summer, club chiefs are cheering Neil Warnock's side on all the way to the finishing line.

Chairman Barry Kilby confirmed: "We will receive £125,000 if United are promoted and then another £125,000 should they stay in the Premiership.

"That doesn't sound a lot of money, but we can't budget for it so it would be a bonus.

"Such an amount can go a long way at this level, so we have to just wait and hope."