Clarets ready for lift off

But when questioned by Radio Lancashire's Gary Hickson it was his answers regarding the team and the potential for next season and beyond that will have interested the Burnley fans more.

"This is one of the most exciting times for Burnley Football Club for a long, long time," he said. "With new investment from Brendan Flood, and the passion and commitment that we know of from Barry Kilby, they are going to drive the club really forward.

"I guarantee there is going to be lift off at Burnley Football Club, it really is going to be absolutely fantastic. I think we will see a different environment and a different season next season," adding: "I can't speak for people who have got a lot of money riding in this club already and will be very keen to commit more money to this football club."

Having spoken at length about community type projects, Hickson said the fans would be more interested about the results on a Saturday and Tuesday, and what type of players we are going to get, is that going to improve too?

Edmundson was emphatic. "Too right it is going to improve," he claimed. "I'm sure that Steve Cotterill will be a happier man at the start of next season than what he was at the start of this season. It is not just about what is going on off the field, but on the field it is big time, absolutely big time.

"The fans can expect investment on the field. There is going to be investment on the field without a shadow of a doubt, and it is not just down to the two people who have massively invested in the club already to keep us in the championship."

Those two who have already invested massively are now taking over as operational directors, and Chairman Barry Kilby is looking forward to his new role. Speaking today he said: "Brendan and myself are going to be more hands on and think we can run it together.

"I'm formally going to be here for a set number of days at a time. I'm relishing it. It's a little bit different in terms of responsibilities but we'll see if we can drive our revenues up. I was reading today that the average turnover for the Championship is £"16-£17 million. Ours is £8 million and it needs some bridging.

"Our player's wage bill last season was £5 million, Birmingham's was £22 million. It is an uphill struggle but I'm quite proud that we've had seven seasons now in the Championship. For the 20-odd before that we were down in the dumps."

He's looking forward to working with fellow director Brendan Flood, and added: "I've known him for a little while and I think he will bring a lot to the party. He's nearly twenty years younger than me so it gives you a new outlook."

Kilby also confirmed that he will be having a meeting with manager Steve Cotterill next Friday. "We've got a meeting before the England B game, and we've got a budget for him. At the moment we've got 16 players under contract and that needs to be beefed up."

Given the words of Edmundson, we can expect that budget to be somewhat bigger than £5 million this year as we look forward to lift off and the most exciting times for a long, long time.