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Can the Clarets Stay Up? Friday 26th June 2009
Many clubs that have been promoted to the Premier League in recent years have had a torrid season in the top flight, but Burnley will be hoping they can avoid the same fate.
The Clarets saw off Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final to reach the holy grail of English football and will be desperate to make sure their stay isn’t just for the one campaign.
Fantasy Stakes players will know that when Derby County reached the Premiership via the play-offs they set a record low points tally in 2008.
However, last season Hull managed to escape the drop with last-day drama at the KC Stadium, and fellow promoted club Stoke almost managed a top-half finish.
Manager Owen Coyle was the subject of much speculation regarding a move to Scottish giants Celtic but decided to stay on at Burnley and face the challenge of what is sure to be a tough campaign at Turf Moor.
And Coyle has been busy in the transfer market as he looks to consolidate the squad in preparation for August.
Derby right-back Tyrone Mears has flown back from his holiday to discuss a potential move to Burnley.
The 26-year-old, who was on loan at Marseille last term, is thought to be top of Owen Coyle’s wish list.
“He’s 26, played in the Premier League with West Ham and Derby, and moved for a million and more twice, so that shows the value people have placed on him,” he said.
“Marseille agreed a fee of 1.5m euros with Derby, so that tells you the value they held him in, but we aren’t going to have to pay that.”
Coyle is also on the look out for a centre half and has been linked with moves for Celtic’s Bobo Balde and Sheffield United’s Matthew Kilgallon.
Fantasy football players will know that the Burnley squad will have to be ready for a long campaign when the Premier League season restarts.
