BURNLEY Football Club has asked Burnley town hall to spend £500 of council taxpayers' cash to sponsor a player for the coming season.

The invitation from the Clarets has gone out to businesses throughout the area in a bid to boost income at the club with a multi-million pound turnover.

But it is the first time councillors can recall a sponsorship request from the club coming to the cash-strapped local authority.

Now town hall officer Ian Wolstencroft has written to all four party leaders on the council, seeking their views so an early decision can be made.

But two of the leaders, the LibDem Gordon Birtwistle and Independent Group boss Harry Brooks have already given the thumbs down to sponsorship. Coun Brooks, a lifelong Clarets' supporter and £950-a-year club vice-president said: "I do not think we should be spending council money in that way.

"But I would support a proposal for each of our 48 councillors to sponsor players out of their own pockets."

Coun Birtwistle, an avid Blackburn Rovers fan added: "This is a private, limited company and the council should not be putting money into private companies. If we had £500 to spare, we should give it to a local junior team who have no money."

Conservative leader Peter Doyle said he would have to consult with his two other members before making a decision. And the Council's Labour leader, Stuart Caddy, a postman, said he had not yet received the letter at his home and would comment later.

Burnley Football Club declined to comment.