AS Michael Duff prepares to end his eighth season with Burnley, having already signed up for a ninth, the defender is better placed than most to appreciate how far the football club has come in a short space of time.

When Duff arrived from Cheltenham Town in July 2004 for just £30,000 – surely one of the most value for money signings in football – the squad was threadbare.

Contracts of stalwarts including Paul Weller, Dean West, Lenny Johnrose and Glen Little had come to an end at the same time as manager Stan Ternent’s the previous season.

At the time of Steve Cotterill’s appointment the following summer, the new manager would not have been able to field a team of seniors.

It was a new start, almost from scratch. Duff became one of his first signings, following former Sligo Rovers boss Cotterill from Whaddon Road, and experienced defenders John McGreal and Frank Sinclair through the Turf Moor entrance door.

There have been dozens of comings and goings since then, from the boardroom to the bootroom.

But aside from keeper Brian Jensen – the club’s longest serving current player – there has been one constant. Barry Kilby.

When the lifelong fan and local businessman became chairman in January 1999, three months after first joining the board, the club was in the lower echelons of the third tier. He backed Ternent in his first full season at the helm, and was rewarded with promotion.

Fast forward a little over 10 years and Kilby was living the dream. In the Premier League.

No-one would have enjoyed that season in the top flight more than him.

No-one would long more to see Burnley back there. But equally, no-one would appreciate more just what it took for the Clarets to dine at English football’s top table for the first time in 33 years – the pinnacle of his 13-year stewardship with one game to go.

Tasting the top flight has whetted the appetite. This small town club now has big ambitions.

He shouldn’t be blamed for the team not meeting them this season.

He should be thanked for raising the bar.