The name on everyone’s lips was “ITVDigital” the company who promised mega money, delivered nothing, Stan who had two seventh place finishes in his previous two seasons, looked to improve, but the financial implications ITVDigital left us in an impossible position. We needed to cut the wage bill; we needed to pay the outstanding debts.
Gazza had left, and new arrivals were thin on the ground as Stan had to “Cut his cloth “, the season would also see the last games for, Ian Cox, Paul Cook, Nick the Greek, Steve Davis, Gordon Armstrong and Lee Briscoe
Strange season just doesn’t tell half about this season, Dave Thomas reviews it brilliantly in his book, Its Burnley not Barcelona, the serch for champaine on beer money.
To try and get this season in to any sort of contex, try losing 7-4, 7-2, and 6-2 at home? Scoring 5 at Grimsby and still losing, beating the mighty Spurs, and Premiership Fulham, losing out in the League Cup to eventual winners Manchester United.
One player who wore the famous shirt for the last time as a player would be, Andy Payton, just two appearances from the bench was all his final season brought, and a month on the seaside at Blackpool, but a cynical challenge in a reserve game would curtail his career for good. Andy hung his boots up, 2002-2003 would be his last.
But for Burnley this would be the first year of a new challenge, keeping our heads above water.
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