BARRY Kilby believes the next chairman of Burnley Football Club will be a natural successor.

The 63-year-old is set to step down from a role he has held for 13 years in May, after revealing he is battling cancer.

He has confirmed, however, he will retain his shares and remain on the board. And he feels the new chairman will be picked from one of the club’s other four directors.

Operational director Brendan Flood, Clive Holt, Mike Garlick and newest director John Banaszkiewicz are like Kilby all Burnley fans, and are all options to succeed Kilby.

And he feels that is a tradition that should be maintained at Turf Moor.

“I prefer clubs that are run by people who are part of the social fabric of the club. Not people who have to look on a map and find out what they’re buying,” said Kilby, who has overseen two promotions, four managerial appointments and one season in the Premier League.

“We’re all Burnley fans. The club is in our DNA, if you like.

“We’re a tight group.

“Out of the four (other directors) I would presume that a new chairman will be elected.

“I think it will come from within. It’s not like a chief executive. The directors represent the share-holders, the shareholders elect the directors and the directors elect the chairman. It’s not a club like Preston where there is one big dominant shareholder that says ‘this is the chairman’. It has to go through those democratic processes. There’s nobody absolutely dominant that can say this, that or the other.”

And Kilby is hopeful the club can continue the progress it has made over his 13-year stewardship.

“I think we can. I hope so, yes,” he said.

“It’s got a good board of directors and I think we’re in good shape as well.

“I’d like to think we can progress next season.”

Asked if he felt he would still have a role to play, Kilby added: “I certainly hope so, obviously I’ll have to see how the health goes, but I’ll still be a director and I hope I can contribute to the wellbeing of this club.

“It’s been a big thing in my life, obviously, and enjoyable in the main.

“There have been ups and downs, the adrenaline - it’s a big thing to say ‘we’ve got to step down from this’.

“It’s purely a duty thing and time. I’ve realised that I can’t carry on doing it.

“I’ll step down at the end of May as chairman but I’ll still be a director of the club.

“I hope (the input) is valued. I’ll play as big a part as I’m asked to and can.”