BURNLEY chairman Mike Garlick believes there ‘will never be another’ player like Jimmy McIlroy in terms of the impact he had on the town.

The Clarets great died aged 86 on Monday and Garlick has paid tribute to him along with Sean Dyche and vice-chairman Barry Kilby.

“I wasn’t fortunate enough to see Jimmy play, but we all know of his impact on the club and town and there will never be another like him,” Garlick said.

“It’s a different time, we all know that, but Jimmy came from an era that defines us as a club.

“Even today, over 50 years on, the stadium proudly bears his name on a stand and he is someone who was, and is, idolised by fans of every generation, who know what he meant to Burnley Football Club.

“It’s truly a sad day and all the thoughts of people connected with the club go out to his family.”

McIlroy made 497 appearances for the Clarets across 13 years at Turf Moor, scoring 131 goals. The Northern Irishman was a key part of Burnley’s 1960-Championship winning team under legendary manager Harry Potts.

Current Turf Moor boss Sean Dyche hailed McIlroy as a ‘true great’ in the club’s history.

“While not knowing Jimmy personally, I am acutely aware of his fantastic achievements with Burnley Football Club and Northern Ireland, and the relationship he had with this club over many years,” he said.

“I have learned from many people that he was a top, top player from a fantastic generation in our history.

“It’s always a sad day when we lose someone so closely associated with the club and our thoughts go out to everyone who was close to Jimmy. A true great in Burnley’s history.”

Vice-chairman Kilby remembers McIlroy as a player and was chairman when a stand was named after him at Turf Moor.

“Jimmy was an absolute Burnley legend and someone I had the pleasure to witness as a player and then got to know as a friend over the years,” he said.

“He was such a skilful ball player with that little burst of speed that got him away from defenders.

“We won the Football League and went into Europe and Jimmy and his team-mates were flag-bearers for the club at that time.

“He was also a full international who appeared at the 1958 World Cup, one of only a few Burnley players ever to achieve that feat.

“His name is absolutely synonymous with that great era in our history and in later life he became our club president and continued to have that connection with the club.

“Until recently he was still a regular visitor, before he finally and sadly became incapacitated. He truly was one of Burnley’s greats, if not the greatest.”