Fletcher's new role at Turf Moor
Paul Fletcher says he is ready to "take any flak" that might come his way from supporters after being appointed Burnley's new chief executive.
Fletcher, who was a popular player for The Clarets in the 1970s, will oversee all commercial activities at Turf Moor.
"It goes with the territory. I'll take all the plaudits and I'll take all the flak when things in my department don't go as well as you anticipate," he said.
"I'm answerable to the fans, I'm up for that," he told BBC Radio Lancashire.
Fletcher, 57, rejoined the club in December 2007 following the announcement of multi-million pound plans to redevelop Turf Moor and the training centre at Gawthorpe.
The move is intended to free up time for chairman Barry Kilby and operations director Brendan Flood who have been working on day-to-day affairs after previous chief executive Dave Edmundson left the club last year.
"I thought it was right to take on some of the burden. They can get on with the manager and the sorting out of the team," said Fletcher, who will combine the role with his position of development director.
"The role has got a little bit bigger and I'm pleased to give my time and experience.
"I've done this role at a number of other clubs but it's nice to be back where my heart is.
"I have lifelong friends here and I've built up an affinity with the spectators.
"This is my club, it's a thrill to be back," Fletcher added.
Luton recruit midfielder O'Connor
Luton Town have signed Irish midfielder Garreth O'Connor, following a three-week trial at the League Two club.
O'Connor, who is right-footed and can play anywhere in midfield, has been handed a deal until January 2009.
The 29-year-old has been without a club since being released by Championship side Burnley at the end of April.
Hatters manager Mick Harford told the club's website: "Garreth's got a chance to make a name for himself, he knows what we expect of him."
O'Connor, who has been handed the number seven shirt, impressed Harford after scoring three goals in two reserve team games.
He has also had a five-year spell at Bournemouth and has made a total of 212 league appearances, scoring 31 goals.
Coyle: We deserved win
BURNLEY booked a place in the fourth round of the FA Cup after an injury time win at QPR.
Jay Rodriguez scored in the final moments of injury-time to secure a tie against West Brom in the next round.
Coyle said: "There's no doubt about that. For me, it would have been an injustice, a travesty, if we hadn't gone through tonight.
"Again, what could possibly go against us went against us. We had Martin Paterson pull up in the warm-up and I couldn't take the chance so I just withdrew him and Robbie Blake came in.
"Chris McCann came off injured and we reshuffled again.
"But we did well. I thought the first half was a wee bit scrappy but we dominated and we started the second well.
"I thought we were well worth the victory."
"For that group of players to play 35 games... their courage and their bravery know no bounds," Coyle added.
"It would have been easy at 1-0 and having had a bit of bad luck with results going against you, but they galvanised themselves and pushed on.
"I'm absolutely delighted with the effort and energy."
Burnley appoint Brian Laws as new manager
Burnley have appointed Brian Laws as manager on a two-and-a-half-year deal.
The 48-year-old former Clarets player, sacked by Championship side Sheffield Wednesday in December, succeeds Owen Coyle, who joined Bolton last week.
Laws, whose first game in charge is at Manchester United on Saturday, beat Doncaster's Sean O'Driscoll to the job.
"I have had an affinity with this club for a long time and I am honoured to have the privilege of managing them in the Premier League," said Laws.
He added on the club's website: "I am sure there are a lot of Burnley fans asking, 'Why Brian Laws?'
"Well let me tell you, I have followed Burnley since I was 16 years old, when I joined the club. This is a fantastic opportunity. Owen Coyle has done a fantastic job at this club. Nobody can ever take that away and I wouldn't want to even try.
"But at this moment in time he has dropped the baton and we want to pick it up with the supporters and drive on over the finishing line, which means we will have stayed in the Premier League.
"That is our drive and ambition and I will do everything in my power to achieve that because this great club is where it should be."
The first mission for Laws will be to ensure the Clarets do not get dragged into a relegation battle, with Burnley - in the top flight for the first time since 1976 and currently only two points above the drop zone - on 20 points after 20 games.
O'Driscoll was also approached as a potential successor to Coyle, having enjoyed success at Doncaster since 2006.
Laws was left as the front-runner when the Championship side revealed that enquiries had been made by a Premier League club for O'Driscoll's services but these were "now at an end".
But Burnley chairman Barry Kilby insisted that the former Grimsby, Scunthorpe and Owls boss was always his first choice as Coyle's replacement.
"We had several excellent candidates but Brian came out in front of the pack. We were impressed by his demeanour and his passion for Burnley as well as his record at Wednesday with success on a limited budget. Burnley being the size we are means we also have to keep to a budget so he was the exact fit for the job," stated Kilby.
"He also has a history of bringing young players through which is important to the ethos of Burnley Football Club."
Football League pundit Steve Claridge said: "I think it is a surprise, when you look at what Laws did at Sheffield Wednesday, that he has had a disappointing year and got a Premier League job off the back of it.
"It doesn't show any lack of ambition by Burnley, it's just a very bizarre decision. I don't think with the way he left Wednesday that he would have been in many people's top 10 to get this job and I don't think we really know whether he will be able to step up to the top flight.
"Finances have been tight during his time there but you would still have expected Wednesday to have done better than they did and he will have to prove himself quickly at Burnley."
Laws will be joined by his former Scunthorpe and Wednesday assistant Russ Wilcox while 38-year-old captain Graham Alexander will take up a new role as player-coach.
Laws was in charge for 154 matches at Hillsborough, winning 52, drawing 42 and losing 60, before a poor run of form cost him his job in December.
He started his playing career at Burnley after joining as a trainee in 1979 and went on to play for Huddersfield, Middlesbrough, Nottingham Forest, Grimsby, Darlington and Scunthorpe in a 19-year career.
His managerial career kicked off with a two-year stint at Grimsby in 1994 before he took charge of Scunthorpe in 1997 and then the Owls in 2006.
"I've been in the game in a long time and managed in over 700 games," added Laws. "I've had experience in all the divisions but the one I was striving to get to is the Premier League.
"Very few opportunities come along and, because of the ethos of Burnley and the way they want to play football, we are a perfect match.
"I want to be challenged and just because managing in the Premier League is not on my CV doesn't mean I cannot do the job."
Lambert: We will bounce back
Norwich manager Paul Lambert was disappointed not to take anything away from Burnley but insists his side will bounce back from their 2-1 defeat.
Dean Marney put the Clarets ahead before Grant Holt equalised for the visitors but it was Jay Rodriguez who scored the winner nine minutes from time to dent the Canaries' promotion charge.
"I thought we were brilliant in the second half, I really did. There was only one team in it, but at the end of the day we got beaten. But you pick yourself up and go again," said Lambert.
"I thought we were in the ascendancy. They took off a striker and tried to match us. If anything we probably played too attacking, but that's the way we play at times.
"I don't think it was a free kick , but you've still got to defend the cross better. The ball's travelled 80 yards but if you've got a man, you pick him up.
"You expect Burnley to be strong. They've just come down from the Premier League and they've got a really vibrant crowd, and we've just come up from League One."
