Derek Gill, new director.

A major shake-up has taken place on the Burnley Football Club board, with two directors resigning and one new director being appointed. Mr Jeffrey Harrison, the son-in-law of former chairman the late Mr Bob Lord, and Preston-based solicitor Mr Jimmy Wilde have handed in their resignations, which were being considered at a board meeting last night.

The new director, who was being co-opted at last night's meeting, is 48-year-old Mr Derek Gill, the managing director of Lupton and Place, the Burnley engineering firm. Burnley FC's board is therefore reduced to four directors - but more new appointments are expected. The board now comprises Mr John Jackson (chairman), Dr David Iven (vice-chairman), Mr Jack Eglin and Mr Gill. The changes are the latest phase of development following the takeover of the club last September by the consortium headed by Mr Jackson and Dr Iven. Under the restructuring of the club's leadership, Mr Gill will be responsible for finance and administration, Mr Eglin is in charge of the commercial aspects and Mr Jackson and Dr Iven will oversee the general running of the club. The next step is to encourage onto the board rich businessmen who can provide financial backing for Burnley FC. In years gone by such approaches were not welcomed but now the club is very much in the market for offers.

Mr Gill, a married man with seven children, who lives in Ightenhill Park Lane, said "Burnley Football Club has to be looked upon as an asset of the community, and for me to be given a chance to develop that asset I regard as both a privilege and an honour. The potential for improvement as Turf Moor is enormous and I shall do all I can to see that such potential is fulfilled."

The two departing directors have both given loyal service to the Clarets during the past decade. Mr Harrison, who is married to the late Mr Lord's daughter, Margaret, had two spells on the board. He joined in August, 1971, and served for eight years until March, 1979, when he resigned, giving his reason as "pressure of business commitments". But five months later he was back on the board, in August, 1979, continuing until his resignation this week. Mr Wilde, a former director of Preston North End, served on the Burnley board for two-and-a-half years. He was co-opted in August, 1979, at the same time as Mr Eglin.