If Burnley succeed in their bid for promotion to the Premier League by beating Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final on Monday, than seven thousand fans will get free season tickets for 2009/10. Before the start of the season, the Clarets promised any fans who purchased two successive season tickets that if the club were promoted, they would get their ticket for the 2009-10 season for free.

Seven thousand fans are eligible for the refund, and the stunt could cost the club £2m in receipts.

Barry Kilby, Burnley's chairman, insisted the club would not regret the decision. "We called it the 'Chairman's Pledge'," Kilby said. "If we go up, then people who bought season tickets will get their money back. All of these people have stood with us through thick and thin. It would be just a case of them sharing our success. In terms of Premier League money, it's not that big. I would certainly trade it for getting into the Premier League.

"The pledge came about because our Premier League rivals around here were cutting prices. We would be the smallest team up there in terms of the size of the town. There are just over 70,000 people here but it is a real football town. People here cling on to this club. It has kept them going."