James Holroyd has left his position as chief executive of Burnley after little more than a year in the role. His departure comes with the club in a deep sporting crisis, sitting 24th in the Championship with just four points from eight games and without a league victory in 328 days.
Holroyd will continue to work at the club through the Burnley In The Community programme, but is no longer involved in the commercial side of the business. He described the decision to step down as a difficult one, but affirmed his pride in the club's resilience and his commitment to its community work. He thanked owner Alan Pace and the board for the opportunity and expressed gratitude to staff and supporters for making him feel part of the Claret family.
Burnley have not won a league game since February, a run that now spans nearly a full year. Their last home victory at Turf Moor was also almost a year ago, a period of struggle that has left them rooted to the foot of the Championship table. The most recent disappointment was a 1-1 draw with Derby County, where a late equaliser denied them three points.
The leadership change occurs against a backdrop of significant financial strain and internal instability following the club's leveraged buy-out. When Alan Pace's ALK Capital purchased Burnley in December 2020, he promised an exciting journey. However, the club's financial position has shifted dramatically. Accounts show the club now holds £13 million in cash, a stark drop from the £80 million that was in the bank prior to the takeover, while carrying a debt burden of £142 million. The buy-out itself was structured using the club's own money.
A wave of staff departures has marked the period since ALK's arrival, with most employees from the pre-takeover era no longer at the club. Many left within the first year. It is understood that Holroyd found Pace's management style to be overly hands-on, and that employees often felt they were not trusted to perform their jobs independently. Amy Wells, the former head of human resources, has been appointed as interim chief executive following Holroyd's exit, with Nathan Kavanagh serving as director of strategy and transformation.
The club's on-field struggles mirror the off-field uncertainty. Their recent form reads zero wins, three draws and two losses from the last five matches. The search for a first win continues at Vicarage Road on 10 October, when Burnley face Watford in their next Championship fixture, a game listed on our fixtures page.
Background and full detail: Daily Mail Sport
