FORMER Burnley manager Steve Cotterill has described Barry Kilby’s decision to step down as chairman as “a loss to football”.

Cotterill became Kilby’s first appointment in June 2004, five-and-a-half years after taking over from Frank Teasdale in Stan Ternent’s first season in charge.

Over the next three seasons the pair cemented the Clarets’ position in the Championship, after they narrowly avoided relegation the season before Cotterill’s arrival.

They parted company in November 2007, but Cotterill insisted their time together could have been shortened had it not be for Kilby.

“First and foremost the guy is an absolute gentleman. He’s straight as a die and truthful,” said the former Clarets boss. “I couldn’t speak too many good words about him. He’s an absolute top guy.

“As chairman, he was pretty much the same. I know sometimes when business comes into it you have to act a little bit differently. Barry didn’t, to be fair, he was always truthful with me. We were very close.

“He was the reason I was at Burnley so long. There were a few opportunities for me to leave while I was there but he kept talking me round into staying.

“He never used to stop apologising to me for the budget I had to work with at Burnley, saying he wished he could have given me this or that, but we never had it.

“I had a lot of support from the man and that was probably more important to me. He got that from me as his manager.

“I stayed and I didn’t regret it.

“He is just a top man.”