BURNLEY chief executive Paul Fletcher has revealed that plans to redevelop the David Fishwick Stand at Turf Moor look set to face another delay because of the recession.

The Clarets unveiled plans to build a new 2,500-capacity stand at the Cricket Field end of the ground as far back as the summer of 2007 but the financial climate forced the club to put the project on hold a year later.

Burnley’s promotion to the Premier League put the wheels back in motion on the £15m redevelopment, though, and Fletcher said in April that the club hoped to open the new stand in time for the start of the 2011/12 season – regardless of whether the Clarets were relegated or not in their first season back in the top flight.

But Brian Laws’ side dropped back to the Championship in May and talk that the country could soon go into a ‘double dip’ recession – meaning the economy could start to decline once more after recovery following the initial recession – has persuaded Burnley to temporarily put the plans back on hold.

“As everyone is aware the banks aren’t lending money at the moment as they talk about a double dip recession, and possibly the second dip is still to come,” said Fletcher, who returned to the club he served as a player to oversee the development in 2008.

“We still talk about the plans at every board meeting and it is still high on the agenda, but it is not essential at the moment.

“I’m still hopeful, though, that within the next 12 or 18 months we will be able to make an announcement on it.”

The Clarets previously confirmed that the new Cricket Field Stand will be a futuristic ‘StadiArena’ stand, allowing seating to be moved on non-matchdays to create a 1,500-capacity exhibition hall – hosting conferences and Asian weddings – or a 4,000-strong rock concert venue.

Plans were also unveiled earlier this year for a ‘football university’ – the first in the world – in the area behind the stand.

Students would be able to learn about the business side of football, although the plans remain dependent on an agreement over the relocation of Burnley Cricket Club.

Both projects could now face delays but the club are going ahead with plans for a £2m redevelopment of their Gawthorpe training ground, having submitted plans to the council recently.

The plans include a new indoor training facility and the Clarets hope to receive permission to start renovation early next year, aiming for the improvements to be completed by the start of next pre-season.

The Gawthorpe redevelopment is also due to benefit the club’s developing talent, and the improvements are required if the Clarets are to be allow to upgrade their youth set-up to Academy status in the future.

Operational director Brendan Flood said last December that the club hoped to gain Academy status within the next 12 to 18 months but that has also been put on the backburner for now.

“Until we have the facilities it’s not worth thinking about,” said Fletcher.

“But the new Gawthorpe development would give us the option.”