THE Burnley Football Club Board of Directors are in no rush to make takeover funds available in time for transfer deadline day.

Negotiations with the three interested parties have reached a crucial and delicate stage.

And an extraordinary general meeting would have to be called within a week if the cash was to be made available for manager Chris Waddle to strengthen his chances of avoiding the drop.

But the Bosman Ruling, where players prefer to wait until the end of the season before deciding their future, has made deadline day - on March 26 - something of a non-event.

There is also the worry that a short-term buy may not fit into a manager's longer-term plans.

Director Bob Blakeborough said: "The sooner additional funds can be made available the better.

"It is always easier if you've got more money available at any time. "But there is a lot less movement on the transfer market around this time because of Bosman. Last year was a damp squib."

And Blakeborough urged fans to keep an open mind on the takeover.

He added: "We are at a fairly delicate stage. It is still a situation that has to be finalised.

"All the directors involved have their own businesses and employment. In reality it is not practical to be together all day every day. Likewise the other parties are not fully focused on Burnley Football Club.

"The public know more about Mr Ingleby than anyone else.

"But other parties would be equally satisfactory to people."

Ray Ingleby's partner, David Parry, has rubbished suggestions that former Aston Villa manager Brian Little was lined up as a possible replacement for Chris Waddle, should their takeover bid have proved successful. Joe Royle's name had also recently been linked before he accepted the job at Manchester City.

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