BARRY Kilby has laid down the framework for Burnley to get back on a sound financial footing.

The Clarets chairman is pulling hard on the purse strings to put the club back on an even keel following the well documented shortfall in revenue.

Kilby acknowledges this will be the toughest year of his boardroom reign before escalating wages return to 'normal' to ease the club's plight.

And in a frank and revealing admission, he has given his view on where Burnley need to be after weathering the storm.

Kilby said: "We used to have 28 or 30 professionals, but 21 professionals averaging £2,000 per week now has to be Burnley's level.

You rarely get a Premiership player now earning less than £15,000-a-week and there is no way we can afford to pay full whack.

"I think there's a strong argument to say that by taking such players on loan for now, we put them in the shop window for someone to maybe pick them up.

"But in the meantime we get really top players in who can do a job for us."

Kilby, who is adamant wages will no longer exceed 60 per cent of the club's net income, added: "We are still trying to struggle though and if we get through this season, I can see clear water.

"The players wage bill will come down from £5.5m to something like £2.8m and we will start to be right again.

"It's all about living hand to mouth and getting through, while postponing some of our debts. But I guarantee the worst will be over at the end of this season."

This week's addition of loan trio Andy Todd, Gareth Farrelly and Delroy Facey has strengthened Stan Ternent's hand and left the manager spoilt for choice for the first time this season for today's trip to Stoke.

And Kilby hinted that further similar deals could be in the offing as the Clarets look to take full advantage of the Premiership transfer window being bolted shut for another four months.

He added: "I really think we are just a few players short of being a really good squad and I know Stan honestly thinks if we can fill certain positions, we can be a really good side and get up there in a play-off position.

"It has been quite frustrating, but we have had to wait for the right players to become available when the transfer window closed before going shopping for loan players and getting £20,000-a-week players for £2,000.

"But you have to sit and be patient because we know there are a lot of players who now won't be guaranteed a game and that allows us to go and try to get a bargain."