LEE Hoos has been described as a man of the people by an ex-colleague.

Former Leicester City commercial director Paul Hunt worked with the American for 12 months at the now King Power Stadium.

The pair are now at rival clubs.

Hunt was appointed deputy chief executive at Blackburn Rovers in May, while Hoos was yesterday announced as the new chief executive of Burnley.

And although Hunt is mindful of the animosity between the two East Lancashire sides, he has wished Hoos well. “The supporters will like him,” said Hunt. “He is good among the fans and very supportive of the manager as well.

“He always came across as very enthusiastic and very much focused on the customer and the supporter and was adept at what he was doing.

“He is an operator and a very good networker. I think he’s an excellent choice, and Barry Kilby obviously thinks so too.

“The whole aspirations around Leicester were to get up to the Premier League and Lee was able to assist in that area.

“It will be a challenge to him because he has always been at city clubs. We struggle in the north west for a glut of clubs close together, but every football club in the land wants the same thing and that is fans coming through the door.”

Hunt admitted it was a twist of fate that they had both ended up in East Lancashire, and added: “It’s interes-ting – if we met on the pitch we would be in fiercely opposite camps, but off the pitch we are still friends.”