BURNLEY manager Steve Cotterill has spoken of his gratitude to the man who helped bring Ade Akinbiyi back to Turf Moor.

New director Brendan Flood stumped up some of the £750,000 needed to prompt the popular striker's return from Sheffield United ahead of today's FA Cup third round clash at Reading.

And Cotterill revealed he has said a personal thank you' to the Manchester-based shopping centre owner and developer, who joined the Clarets board following an appeal for investors towards the end of last year.

"I think, quite probably, we wouldn't have ben able to bring Ade back without Brendan Flood coming on the board," the Burnley boss said.

"I've thanked him personally for that."

Lifelong Clarets supporter Mr Flood was voted onto the club's board of directors in early December.

The Rossendale-boon businessman, who has a background in banking, launched his own company Modus Properties in 1991 which is a now a market leader in urban regeneration.

Cotterill added: "He's another one that's not only a director but a fan, but he was a big fan of Ade's so I think he was quite pleased with how his money was spent.

"I would like to go on record as thanking him for that."

However, Cotterill revealed the deal was not just a matter of finances, with up to six days' negotiations.

"I wouldn't say it was an easy deal," he said.

"I had conversations with Sheffield United, with an agent who was working on behalf of Sheffield United, Ade's agent and Ade, so I think there was a lot of work to be done for it to happen - it didn't just happen.

"We were working on it (the deal) for probably five or six days solid really.

"All-in-all I think it was probably a bit more difficult for Ade because he was leaving the Premiership, if you know what I mean.

"It wasn't an easy deal getting him back at the money we got him back at considering the money we sold him for 12 months previously.

"But we needed another striker, without a shadow of a doubt. With the loss of Andy Gray we've struggled to win a game, as hard as we've tried.

"Andy's a good striker and he's bound to be missed so another striker was a must for us really. Some of the prices that are being quoted for some of the younger strikers out there would be unbelievable - certainly something we couldn't get in to.

"So we do get somebody who's 30-plus now, but he didn't do so bad when he was 30 here before.

"I would imagine the players in the dressing room are delighted he's back - it certainly looks that way.

"And I would imagine the supporters are delighted."

And Cotterill insists neither he, nor Akinbiyi, have any qualms about the powerhouse front man coming back to East Lancashire just less than 12 months after his move across the Pennines.

"Only the pessimists will say you shouldn't go back. The optimists will be absolutely delighted and won't even think about spelling the word pessimist!," he said.

"If you want to go out there and spend £4 million then maybe we wouldn't have brought Ade back.

"The numbers will decide what market you're in, and if you haven't got any numbers, you're not in any market.

"So we're delighted with the money we've spent bringing Ade back to the club.

"We've just got to make sure he gets back all the confidence that he had here before, because then I'm sure he'll go on to be a success. And hopefully for his sake as well because he's a terrific lad and he goes into the dressing room, now with more terrific lads."