Kilby hits out at police

Last Updated : 09-Jun-2006 by

He seems to be unhappy that the two clubs, just about six miles apart, will be playing at home at the same time, a decision that has been made by the police. He claims it is robbing supporters of the chance to watch both clubs and points to the fact that there was more sense in Accrington clashing with Blackburn who will not have too many Saturday home games next season because of their UEFA Cup commitments.

“Both me and Accrington chairman Eric Whalley are really annoyed about the decision, particularly Eric as he has been the one making representations to the police,” Kilby said, adding: “It is going to cost them up to £100,000, and it will hit us to some extent because there are people that would want to go to the home games of both Burnley and Accrington and obviously won't be able to now.

“Accrington and Blackburn are in the same police division and it seems they are reluctant to police the two matches, although what policing a game like Accrington v Macclesfield would require, for example, I don't know.”

The police have defended there decision and claimed: “It is a matter of juggling around the fixtures and seeing how we can use our resources. Blackburn and Accrington are both in the same policing division and if the teams play at the same time our resources would be stretched very thin. Having Blackburn and Accrington playing at the same time is not practical from a policing point of view.”

My concern is that the fixtures are being determined by the police, and for me this is way out of order. I too find it incredible that they admit to having difficulty in policing games at Blackburn and Accrington at the same time.

But not too long ago Barry Kilby claimed he would be delighted to see Accrington Stanley back in the Football League, despite the fact that it would bring further competition to the Clarets in having league football so close to our doorstep. He didn't seem too concerned then about the potential of us playing at home at the same time.

Just as the police should not be making fixture decisions such as this, likewise Kilby, nor Whalley, have any right to determine which teams they should have home games clashing with. If we clash with Accrington Stanley then so be it, and our chairman shouldn't really have any concern with the League Two newcomers losing £100,000. He should though be concerned at the thought Burnley fans spending their money elsewhere to watch football rather than encouraging it.

Ultimately these decisions should be left to those responsible for compiling the fixtures, not the chairmen of two local clubs, and certainly not the police.