BURNLEY FC’s co-chairman John Banaszkiewicz has quit just a week after chief executive Lee Hoos announced he was leaving the club.

The departure of Mr Banaszkiewicz, who was appointed as co-chairman in May 2012, means that Mike Garlick will now become sole chairman.

Mr Banaszkiewicz, who was born in Nelson, will remain as a director at Turf Moor.

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The move follows chief executive Mr Hoos’s decision to leave the club to join QPR, with David Baldwin stepping up to replace him, while Frank McParland is also close to being appointed as director of football.

There will be upheaval on the playing side as well, with 11-goal top scorer Danny Ings leaving when his contract expires at the end of June.

Mr Banaszkiewicz, known to fans as John B, said his experience as co-chairman, overseeing the club’s promotion to the Premier League in 2013/14 and last season’s brave battle against the drop in the top flight, had been ‘tremendous’.

He said: “I feel I’ve done a good job promoting Burnley globally in places like Japan and Singapore.

“It’s been a tremendous experience for me, particularly all the interaction I’ve had with all parts of the club - the manager and players and the rest of the team, and the fans, and I’ve really enjoyed trying to convert people around the world.

“We are financially stable and in a good position going forward.

“The season was a bit up and down with fine margins. We worked incredibly hard as a team and that’s all credit to Sean Dyche.”

As well as wanting to spend time with his family in London Mr Banaszkiewicz is also keen to focus on the business he co-founded in 2002, Freight Investor Services Ltd UK.

In the 13 years he has been at the helm of the firm it has consistently grown and has expanded from its London base to include branches and trading associates in the United States, Greece, Japan and Singapore.

“There’s a lot of work behind the scenes,” said Mr Banaszkiewicz.

“It’s a big organisation. We employ over 100 full-time staff and it’s (an industry that is) changing every minute.

“It does take its toll with a young family and a lot of different businesses.

“I’ve decided to take a bit of a breather. I’ll still be involved, just more on the back bench.”

Having achieved promotion from the Championship without incurring a loss, other than promotion bonuses paid to the squad, the Clarets are in a strong financial position to challenge again this season, having secured a year’s TV money from the Premier League as well as having the parachute payments to come from next season.

While Mr Banaszkiewicz is keen to see the club continue to move forward, he also wants to see the Clarets carry on with the work done to bring the community on board at Turf Moor.

He said: “We have to continue the work we’ve done and work with the community. We won’t sit still.”

Having shared the chairmanship for three years, Burnley-born Mr Garlick will now become sole chairman.

Mr Banaszkiewicz said: “Myself and Mike have worked well together.

“He’s looking forward to being sole chairman and he has and will continue to put a lot of effort into it.”

Mr Garlick said: “John and I now own over 75 per cent of the club combined and going forward will continue to work together to move the club forward in a positive and progressive way.

“During the past three years we have achieved a great deal working together and we truly believe that the club is in a very strong position to continue improving in all aspects both on and off the field.

“We will both continue to strive to better our club for the benefit of our fans and our community, along with all connected to our very unique football club.”