Burnley chairman Barry Kilby has paid tribute to Brendan Flood - insisting the club's redevelopment plans were unlikely to come true without the club's ambitious director.

Lifelong fan Flood is dipping into his own personal fortune to fund the sensational £20m upgrade of Turf Moor and Gawthorpe training base.

But it is not the first major contribution made by the Rossendale-born businessman since he joined the Clarets board last December.

Flood, a millionaire who made his money as managing director of urban regeneration giants Modus Properties, has also invested in the signing of players - most notably the £750,000 capture of Ade Akinbiyi in January.

The Manchester-based entrepreneur has since took the title of operation director, working alongside Kilby to drive forward the business arm of the club.

The forthcoming transformation of Burnley's historic ground has captured Kilby's imagination as he enters his tenth season as Clarets chairman.

But he admits the futuristic plans were unlikely to happen without Flood's considerable input.

"I doubt this would have been possible without Brendan Flood being on the board," Kilby said. "He's played a big, big part in this.

"The finance comes from several sources and there is both private equity and commerical revenues among others.

"But this is Brendan's concept and he is helping with the money as well, so this is his very much his baby.

"Obviously this is right up Brendan's street, and to have someone of his experience is fabulous.

Kilby added: "He's a real Burnley fan and I met him three or four years ago, so I was delighted when he finally came on the board.

"Straight away, you can see the effects.

"Burnley is lucky in that it has had fan directors who have put significant amounts of their wealth into the club and kept it up there in the Championship.

"No-one looks to make money out of Burnley Football Club.

"But Brendan and I both have strengths. He's that bit younger as well, which we need in the progression of the club, so we work very well together and I'm delighted he's on board."

Flood can take his expertise in regeneration to his boyhood club when the plans get under way, possibly in the new year once the Clarets are given the necessary planning permission.

The plans - which include the construction of a 2,500-seat stand to replace the Cricket Field stand, and a new relocated players' dressing room and hospitality block - are then scheduled to be completed by 2010.

Flood said: "It's a challenge, and I'm not kidding myself that there's not a lot of work to do.

"But thankfully it's my day job, and I'm keen to use my ability to help the club do better."