BURNLEY’S Premier League adventure last season has given them a financial ‘safety cushion’, according to vice-chairman Barry Kilby.

Former chairman Kilby, who has accepted Mike Garlick’s invitation to become his right-hand man three years after he stepped down to fight prostate cancer, believes the Clarets were right not to overreach themselves in the top flight.

Kilby cited the examples of clubs who have gambled on survival and got themselves into financial trouble.

But despite only surviving for one season in the top tier, Burnley are well placed for an immediate return and Kilby insists the rewards even for one season of Premier League football have put the Clarets in a strong position.

“Another year back in the Premier League and the amount of money you get now coming down is unbelievable,” he said.

“We’re always on a shoestring in a way. You say ‘you can’t bet the ranch’ once and it gets jumped on.

“But some have and look at the state they’ve got into.

“But there’s no doubt that it was a massive thing to go back up again and get the parachute payments. It’s given us a fantastic flexibility, safety cushion, whatever you want to call it.

“What a fabulous job Sean (Dyche) did, virtually on a shoestring.”

The Premier League windfall has allowed Dyche to splash the cash this summer, with record signing Andre Gray hitting the ground running with eight goals so far in a Burnley shirt.

But the Clarets have mostly recouped what they spent through the sales of Kieran Trippier to Tottenham and Jason Shackell to Derby County, with the fee for Danny Ings move to Liverpool still yet to be sent by a tribunal.

Gray has shown no signs of being inhibited by his £6 million fee, and Kilby is delighted with the value for money of the striker signed from Brentford.

“We did pay money for him, but he’s been fabulous,” he said.

“We have done well over the last few years.

“It’s not nice having to sell but we’ve always had to keep a weather eye on it.

“Now it’s holding onto them as well. If a big Premier League club comes in it’s a struggle.

“But I think we will be OK this season.”