I WAS there on the day that Westminster came to Turf Moor as part of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee’s inquiry into the governance of professional football.

It was another historic occasion for Burnley, and chairman Barry Kilby emerged from it with flying colours after being quizzed by MPs about his football club and how it was run.

The committee’s brief was to encourage supporter ownership of clubs.

Whether they knew it beforehand or not, in Kilby and his board of directors they found people who already ticked their boxes, managing a tight ship and guarding against getting into the financial difficulties that have been the scourge of many a team at all levels.

Perhaps football wasn’t in as bad a state as they first thought?

Maybe the report should be scrapped?

But the MPs still have some concerns about the game as a whole and Damian Collins, one of the committees key members, said: “We feel very strongly that no change is not an option.”

The government has called for the FA to take action and yesterday imposed a February 29 deadline to bring in rules to tackle debt levels at clubs. Among the financial and structural recommendations the Commons’ Culture Media and Sport Committee made were: n The introduction of a strong and formal club licensing model in English football.

n The introduction of a rigorous fit and proper persons test for club owners and directors.

n The abolition of the football creditors rule, which sees footballers and clubs paid what they are owed first if a club goes into administration.

n Changes to the law to recognise the special nature of supporters’ trusts, and to make fund raising easier for these trusts.

n For the FA to improve grass roots football spending, and to raise the level of coaching.

n For the FA to review the structure of its board and council.

Although greater supporter involvement is a pleasant idea in theory, and has worked well for AFC Wimbledon, which has been run totally by its fans since being formed nine years ago, I’m not sure it would work at bigger clubs, unless those board members had the finances to back up their interest in the club.

Burnley are blessed by having the best of both worlds. If Kilby, Brendan Flood and co weren’t in the boardroom they’d be on the terraces.

They have been criticised not investing more of their Premier League parachute payments into the squad.

Perhaps they have erred too much on the side of caution of late.

But there is no question they have the best interests of the club – both short term and long term – at heart.