ACCRINGTON Stanley benefactor Ilyas Khan has confirmed his intention to step down as chairman this summer – once Dave O’Neill's takeover from Eric Whalley is finally rubber-stamped.

The multi-millionaire became non-executive chairman in place of O’Neill last summer and has a verbal agreement with O’Neill that he will step down from the board at the end of this season.

Khan, who owns no shares but says he could convert his substantial investment into a majority stake should he wish, yesterday confirmed he still intends to step down.

“I am not going to be chairman at the beginning of next season as things stand,” he said.