Promotion vital for Lafferty

Operational director hopes to keep Celtic target

Last updated: 4th February 2008

lafferty kyle burnley arsenal

Lafferty: In demand

Related links

Teams

Players

Also see

Operational director Brendan Flood believes promotion will prove to be vital in Burnley's fight to keep hold of Kyle Lafferty.

Celtic failed in their attempts to sign the Northern Ireland international when they had a £3million bid plus Derek Riordan rejected towards to the end of the January transfer window.

Flood stands by the board's decision not to accept the bid, but is aware that interest in the striker will rekindle in the summer, should Burnley not gain promotion to the Premier League.

Flood told the Lancashire Telegraph: "There will be a time when he wants to move on. That's natural for him to do that.

"But ultimately, if we as a club are in the Premier League it will be difficult for him not to want to stay.

Reasonable business

"The easier option would be to sell him and bring Riordan in because a lot of people regard that as reasonable business. But we think he can do really well for us."

Manager Owen Coyle added: "I'm excited about working with Kyle, but it can be out of your hands. If someone came in and offered £5million, you couldn't turn that down.

"It would be foolish. As it is, I mentioned to Brendan and the chairman that it was my belief that we should turn the Celtic offer down."