BURNLEY have paved the way for extra investment at Turf Moor to try to fulfil their dreams of reaching the Premiership promised land.

Shareholders at last night's annual general meeting voted unanimously to approve removing the restriction on the number of directors allowed on to the club's board.

The move comes after the Clarets announced a retained loss of £2.1m for the 2005/06 season, which covered a trading period of 13 rather than 12 months.

Previously, the maximum number of directors allowed on to the board stood at nine and Burnley had struck that figure.

Clarets chairman Barry Kilby, who was re-elected as a director, insists removing the ceiling could allow for more money being pumped into the club.

"This removes the restriction on the number of directors that the club can have," said Kilby.

"The ceiling at the moment is that we cannot have more than nine directors.

"As we have got nine now, if somebody came in and offered us significant investment, then they could join the board."

Kilby added: "This will be my eighth year as director and chairman of Burnley.

"I intend to continue, along with the other directors, into trying to steer this difficult course of keeping Burnley financially viable while giving the best chance possible of reaching the Premier League.

"We've not been there for more than 30 years and if we together can achieve this I think it will be one of the greatest achievement this football club has ever had."

Shareholders were told at Turf Moor how Steve Cotterill's side is punching above its weight in the Championship in light of the club's financial limitations.

The Clarets proudly sit fourth in the table, while they are 14th in the division in terms of player budget, although only 17 out of 24 Championship clubs registered their figures.

Other statistics showed Burnley's turnover budget to be 15th in the division, 17th in terms of match-day ticket revenue budget and 20th for average attendances after nine games.

The Clarets board were widely supported last night in their efforts running the club.

But concerns were raised over the limit of funds provided to assist Cotterill, whose work masterminding the club into the division's higher echelons has attracted him to rival clubs.

One shareholder said: "We have got a great manager, but we need to get some support for him.

"Surely we can give him a bit more help, otherwise I fear Steve may eventually take one of those offers that continue to roll past Burnley and you may not be able to stop him."

Kilby insisted all efforts are being made to help Cotterill, although he refuses to put the Clarets in financial jeopardy.

"Our losses are being covered by director loans and we give Steve all we can," added Kilby.

"If any guy can get us up, he can, but we can't bet the ranch on everything. We always have to keep an eye on our finances and at the moment we are running at full tilt.

"I hope we can help him out during the season, but it's just a matter of cash."

Vice-chairman Ray Ingleby, who was also re-elected as a director, echoed Kilby's views and urged more supporters to come through the gates at Turf Moor.

Ingleby said: "We are all after one thing and that is to take Burnley into the promised land again.

"We keep pumping in money from this end.

"What we need is regular fans and additional fans to turn up. If another 2,000 turn up every week, the manager has the best part of another £15,000 to spend."

Other board members, Martin Hobbs and Mike Garlick, were also re-elected as directors.

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