Burnley FC chairman Barry Kilby to stand down in May due to health problems
10:00am Wednesday 8th February 2012 in Football
13-YEAR REIGN Retiring chairman Barry Kilby
BARRY Kilby, Burnley’s popular chairman, has announced he is to step down at the end of the season due to health problems.
Mr Kilby, who took control of the Clarets in 1998, has overseen a successful period in the club’s history, including promotion to the Premier League in 2009.
His role at the club has been hailed by colleagues, friends and supporters.
In a statement Mr Kilby said: “It has been an honour and a privilege to have been at the helm of this great club for the past 13 years.
“However, growing demands on my time caused by the treatment of unfortunate health issues have convinced me that the time is right to plan to step down as chairman.
“I will, of course, give my full support to my successor and hopefully will still be able to make a significant contribution to the well-being and progress of Burnley Football Club.”
Alastair Campbell, the former government communications director and Clarets fan, said: “I saw Barry at the Peterborough game and I’ve known about his health problems for some time.
“The reason he is held in such affection and respect by Burnley fans, and football fans in general, is because he is someone who really cared for his club. A lot of chairmen are on their own ego trips.
“Barry was a fantastic chairman and I wish him all the best for the future. I’m just glad he put his health first.”
Mr Kilby was credited with bringing stability to the club after he joined the board in October 1998 and was appointed chairman two months later.
In January 1999 he invested £3million to become the club's biggest shareholder.
Stan Ternent was the boss when Mr Kilby gained control but after he left in 2004 Steve Cotterill was his first managerial appointment.
He went on to hand the reins to Owen Coyle, Brian Laws and current manager Eddie Howe.
Former chief executive Paul Fletcher said that Mr Kilby can be put on a par with former chairman Bob Lord for his service to the club.
And he said he believes it is testimony to the chairman’s careful stewardship that the Clarets are in a position to challenge for promotion to the Premier League again, in what will be his final season at the helm.
Mr Fletcher said: “We’re sitting nicely in the Championship with a great manager, a great set of supporters and an excellent squad - all that can only point back to the chairman.”
Comments(25)
spike t
says...
12:42pm Tue 7 Feb 12
hollinsclaret
says...
12:47pm Tue 7 Feb 12
Time for a new dawn, for god sake keep the chicken farmers away !
vintageclaret
says...
12:52pm Tue 7 Feb 12
"Vaya co Dios" You are a God to a lot of BFC supporters
Ivor Smallcock
says...
1:13pm Tue 7 Feb 12
Thank you for your leadership.
As a claret most of the past 13 years has been a pleasure.
Burnley football club is as strong as almost any in the country due to you.
Good luck with your health issues and again thank you for your dedication to Burnley Football Club.
and please not Brendan Flood as chairman....too much financial baggage!!!!!!
madari
says...
1:29pm Tue 7 Feb 12
Thanks for all your efforts Barry.
Without your leadership I doubt if BFC would ever have reached the Premiership in my life time.
You brought in Stan Ternant,Steve Cottrell and Judas Coyle each one took the club forward until it could go no further.
The only mistake you made, in my opinion, was to appoint Brian Laws as manager...but we all make mistakes!!!
Good luck with the future and especially your health.
gudari
says...
1:40pm Tue 7 Feb 12
Clarets Mad
says...
2:42pm Tue 7 Feb 12
You've done an amazing job for the Clarets. You've not sought personal glory but always put the club first. Hope you make a speedy recovery and continue as a board director
Please don't let Brendan 'the smile' Flood become Chairman bcos we'll end being part of the Bank Of Ireland
Once again - ta vezy much !!
living the end times in BB1
says...
2:48pm Tue 7 Feb 12
Wrexham_Claret
says...
3:06pm Tue 7 Feb 12
Thanks for being a great chairman Mr Kilby. I think the comments above say it all really. Took us to the premier league, brought financial stability to the club and most importantly is a Claret through and through.
Keep Darwen Green
says...
4:35pm Tue 7 Feb 12
Wrexham_Claret wrote:MMmmmm not really, didn't we make it crystal clear to you that once the parachute payments had stopped your beloved chairman would be off over the horizon, job done, leaving behind the golden fleeced? Been said on many an occasion, and hey ho look whats happened. We may be in turmoil, but the fleece mission at Burnley is complete, we expect to join you very shortly.
Typical idiotic comments from the chicken farmers, jealousy I guess.
Thanks for being a great chairman Mr Kilby. I think the comments above say it all really. Took us to the premier league, brought financial stability to the club and most importantly is a Claret through and through.
Vauxhall Claret
says...
5:37pm Tue 7 Feb 12
BFC are in far better shape, both on and off the pitch, compared to when you joined. You leave a great legacy. A tough act to follow, but I have faith you will help find the right person.
Best wishes, and good luck for the future and your health.
donroz
says...
6:13pm Tue 7 Feb 12
We have a new young manager, a young improving squad, and excellent backroom staff.
Without your leadership BFC would have gone out of business long ago.
I have supported your business acumen on here and been ridiculed for it, but as a business man I understand that this is a sports entertainment industry.
Thankyou Barry and all the best for the future.
a verythankful supporter.
gudari
says...
7:22pm Tue 7 Feb 12
Keep Darwen Green wrote:Haven't you got enough probles over there at bol-ewood scumbag?
Wrexham_Claret wrote:MMmmmm not really, didn't we make it crystal clear to you that once the parachute payments had stopped your beloved chairman would be off over the horizon, job done, leaving behind the golden fleeced? Been said on many an occasion, and hey ho look whats happened. We may be in turmoil, but the fleece mission at Burnley is complete, we expect to join you very shortly.
Typical idiotic comments from the chicken farmers, jealousy I guess.
Thanks for being a great chairman Mr Kilby. I think the comments above say it all really. Took us to the premier league, brought financial stability to the club and most importantly is a Claret through and through.
gudari
says...
7:27pm Tue 7 Feb 12
accy lad and proud
says...
12:06am Wed 8 Feb 12
nil bye mouth
says...
12:25am Wed 8 Feb 12
Ralph Coates' Comb Over
says...
7:28am Wed 8 Feb 12
His replacement will be a key appointment, and one the club cannot afford to get wrong, like they did when forced to find a replacement for Coyle. That deceision was Barry's biggest mistake, and it cost us the Premier League (for now !).
dangerous dave
says...
9:19am Wed 8 Feb 12
Good Luck
midas
says...
9:35am Wed 8 Feb 12
Keep Darwen Green wrote:The parachute payments haven't stopped and hes stepping down as Chairmannot selling his shares! - Next!!
Wrexham_Claret wrote: Typical idiotic comments from the chicken farmers, jealousy I guess. Thanks for being a great chairman Mr Kilby. I think the comments above say it all really. Took us to the premier league, brought financial stability to the club and most importantly is a Claret through and through.MMmmmm not really, didn't we make it crystal clear to you that once the parachute payments had stopped your beloved chairman would be off over the horizon, job done, leaving behind the golden fleeced? Been said on many an occasion, and hey ho look whats happened. We may be in turmoil, but the fleece mission at Burnley is complete, we expect to join you very shortly.
Midland Claret
says...
11:14am Wed 8 Feb 12
He should leave with all of our best wishes.
gudari
says...
11:40am Wed 8 Feb 12
dangerous dave wrote:Thank you Dave.
I am a Rovers fan - not a Kean or a Venkys though - I for one wish you Mr Kilby well for the future - you have run a 'steady ship' for a long oeriod of time and are a true Claret through and through - Burnley Football Club has been very fortunate to have such a Chairman and True Claret Fan how I wish we at Ewood could say the same.
Good Luck
bankhall
says...
1:19pm Wed 8 Feb 12
bankhall
says...
1:19pm Wed 8 Feb 12
RAyzer
says...
3:07pm Wed 8 Feb 12
nontetleydrinker says...
12:28pm Tue 7 Feb 12