Clarets comfortable over drop

The Clarets' relegation, confirmed after Sunday's 4-0 home defeat to Liverpool, was something the club had been making provision for over the last few weeks.

But it is the overall approach to their first top-flight campaign in 33 years which Kilby believes has been more important.

While some promoted clubs spend huge amounts in trying to survive in the Barclays Premier League only to have to deal with the repercussions when they drop back down, Burnley took a pragmatic approach.

Former manager Owen Coyle was given a limited transfer budget – the smallest in the top flight and none of the players, new or existing, had vast sums lavished on contracts.

Burnley were hopeful of surviving but officials were not prepared to threaten 128 years of history for one brief flirtation with the Premier League. Kilby said the club had to put things in perspective and not get carried away by the lure of the top flight.

"Going up was special but from a financial point of view the Premier League had very real dangers," said the chairman.

"I have always been mindful of the disasters that have befallen many relegated teams, and even administration in the case of Leeds, Southampton and Bradford. Because of our size it would be very hard to recover if we went down that path, compared to some clubs who have four or even five times our revenues."

Kilby now plans talks with manager Brian Laws, who took over in mid-January when Coyle left for Bolton, at the end of the season as they prepare for life as a Championship club again.

"We'll sit down with Brian in the summer. He didn't have a great hand when he arrived, and we'll see where we go from there," added Kilby.