QUESTION: There is real a sense of disillusionment from a section of the fans at Turf Moor after relegation from Division One last season. That seems to be reflected in recent home attendances. Do you accept that?

Mr Teasdale: "Possibly. Relegation was a bitter pill for everybody to swallow. In fact, I firmly believed, even near the end, that relegation was not going to happen. Perhaps, in various ways, we didn't do things we should have done. We were a bit naive in some respects.

But I still firmly believe that it is better to have been there and failed than not been there at all. That is not an excuse. We were very disappointed when it happened. To see the players and fans' faces on that grey day was devastating for everybody."

QUESTION: Can you categorically say that Jimmy Mullen's position is safe as manager of Burnley Football Club?

Teasdale: "My attitude towards Jimmy Mullen is quite clear. I have to give him my support. I think he deserves my support. Because we can't have short memories can we?

"We have to look at what Jimmy Mullen has achieved. All I can say is that I believe everybody within the club should have my support. That means the board of directors' support. It is easy to forget what Jimmy and the players have achieved

"Okay, we've had a hiccup with relegation. We went down. That was not good. It was a disaster. But I feel it is vitally important that the players and manager are not constantly looking over their shoulders.

We can't afford to let them think: "Am I clearing my desk tomorrow, or do I hang my boots up." That aspect is vital.

Everything is discussed at length at board level and in great detail.

Jimmy Mullen knows he is under the spotlight.

We don't have to tell him - and the media don't have to tell him - that people are upset.

Everybody knows that. I don't think there is a good voice coming from the wilderness at all.

Everything seems to be anti the club. In my opinion that is not helping at all, although I can understand it to a certain extent."

QUESTION: Has the board ever voted on the future of the Turf Moor management team?

Teasdale: "The board of directors have never ever had a vote on Jimmy Mullen's future. We have a management structure in place that has done a good job.

"They haven't gone from winning two promotions to absolute idiots. Jimmy Mullen and his staff still have a lot to offer." QUESTION: There was criticism levelled at you after the Radio Lancashire phone-in last Wednesday. Gary Hickson, the presenter, claimed he had offered you seven different dates to go on the programme.

Teasdale: "The programme was discussed among the directors and we thought it would be better for as many people as possible to be part of the broadcast. We considered three directors and the manager as a fair reflection of the Burnley management power.

After all, the directors do have a voice of their own. It is a democratic board. They were speaking from their own experiences and knowledge of what was going on at the club. I personally don't see anything wrong with that at all."

QUESTION: Did you not feel the need to be there on the night? It was stated you had important business commitments.

Teasdale: "Yes. That is correct. I had business engagements and it was impossible not to fulfil those. Are people saying that my colleagues who went on the programme weren't capable of answering the questions?

I felt a little bit harshly treated over the issue. I can catergorically state that I didn't know any of the questions that were going to be asked. But I'm sure, between them, that they coped well.

I've got to admit that I have not heard a full transcript of the tape. I'm sure that whatever the fans asked, the people concerned were able to answer fully. I don't see my rubber-stamping of it makes any difference."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.