By the time you read this column, there is every chance that the Clarets will have a new manager at the helm.

At the time of writing, the clever money appears to be on Watford manager, Malky Mackay.

A proven winner on the pitch, Mackay has done a decent job at Vicarage Road, steering the Hornets into the top six and to within four points of the automatic slots, all the time playing attractive attacking football.

On the face of it, at least, there should be no grumbles should the Scot be appointed as Brian Laws’ successor this week.

Yet whoever lands the job will be one of the luckiest managers in the Championship.

There are a good number of reasons why the Turf Moor post is currently an attractive one.

Despite their faltering progress under Laws, the Clarets are still handily placed for a decent tilt at the play-offs.

Then there is the squad. Despite it not being the finished article, the group of players at the new man’s disposal is capable of holding its own against any of its Championship competitors.

And in light of the fact that Burnley reaped the financial rewards of a season in the top flight, there is more room than usual for some transfer activity between now and the end of this month.

Then there’s the fact that Burnley should be progressing to the fifth round of the FA Cup following a capricious home draw against Burton Albion.

Yet undoubtedly the biggest thing the Clarets have going for them in their search for a new boss is their chairman.

One would imagine that the single thing that most managers crave when taking up a new post is stability.

And in Barry Kilby, Burnley have a chairman whose trigger finger is refreshingly immune to itches.

If Kilby leaves himself open to any kind of accusation, it is that he indulges managers whose sell-by date has well and truly expired.

Stan Ternent, Steve Cotterill and the most recent incumbent were all allowed to remain in charge when it was clear that they had lost their way and were no longer having a positive effect on the teams they sent out.

But there are worse crimes in football than being loyal to the man you appointed and standing by him in his greatest hour of need.

Clubs like Liverpool, Newcastle and our friends down the road could learn much from a chairman like Kilby.