FORMER Burnley chairman Barry Kilby says the Clarets will be better prepared for life in the Premier League second time around, and is more confident of survival.

Kilby was chairman during the club’s last top flight campaign, after promotion was secured via the Championship play-offs in 2008/09.

Burnley’s Premier League experience lasted only one season, disrupted by a change of manager in January.

But Kilby feels the board’s knowledge of what to expect will stand them, and the team, in good stead next term.

“We have been here before, but I think it’s fabulous and there’s a feeling of optimism rather than going into the unknown like we were last time. We’ve a feeling now that know where we’re going to and just how we are going to address ourselves,” said Kilby, who admitted the Premier League had proved to be a bigger power than he had envisaged in 2009/10.

“In a sense it was. We all know what happened during the season as well, which disrupted things and makes it all disjointed in my own mind.

“But it’s the experience and a little bit of know-how this time of just what we’re getting into.”

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The Premier League pot has practically doubled since Burnley last achieved promotion from the Championship, with the Clarets set to benefit to the tune of £120million.

While costs have also escalated in the last five years, Kilby feels the club will be better off financially.

And in Sean Dyche he feels the club have the right man to handle not only the increased transfer kitty, but also the Premier League experience, after the club picked up just four points away from home last time.

“I think we’ve got a plan that’s emerging, what we want to try to do, the type of players we want to try to get and hopefully we can do it,” said Kilby, who stepped down as chairman two years ago for health reasons but retained a place on the board under co-chairmen Mike Garlick and John Banaszkiewicz.

“Obviously you’d like to think we can do better. I did watch Liverpool and Chelsea last Sunday and thought ‘oh my goodness’. We will be competing with these guys, but I’m sure we’ll be well equipped and we’ll have a plan.

“Through going up at the end of the season rather than in the play-off final I think gives you a little bit of an edge to wheel and deal and do things in May, which was denied us last time. So I think we’ve got a little quiet optimism about ourselves and we will acquit ourselves well, and stay in the division.”