HALESOWEN Town benefactor Mike Burke has been told he has to take a back seat.

The vice-chairman, who has bankrolled the club and been a key decision maker for the last year, received an end-of-season email from former owner Steve Lynch on behalf of current owner Dave Smith saying all matters should once again go through him.

Lynch has apparently already had discussions with manager John Hill about transfer and wage budgets ahead of the approaching season.

It is a development that has worried Yeltz fans due to Lynch’s involvement with Eastwood Town, who resigned from the Northern Premier League and were locked out of their home due to unpaid debts of £45,000. It also led to former vice-chairman John Russell to air his concerns on the club’s fans’ forum.

However, Burke, who has put £40,000 into the club, has had no choice but to accept Lynch’s request and said he is disappointed after helping The Grove outfit achieve a firmer financial footing.

“The club is in a much better financial situation now,” he said. “I started to make decisions and made sure that bills were paid. I could now have my £40,000 back but I won’t be doing that to the club.

"I love Halesowen Town and if some fans’ fears are founded then at least I will be around to try and help the club again.

“There is nothing to say the club won’t continue to be a success just because Steve Lynch is taking more control. Due to the work that went on last season, it would take some massive mistakes for the club to go back to the position it was in a few years ago.

“I was thinking about taking a backward step anyway. I couldn’t keep putting money into the club but thought I might still be able to help with key decisions.

“The sad part is that after two years of hard work to get into a good position I won’t be able to help run it now we’ve got here.”

Burke also pays the club around £6,000 per season for his company, The Big Pet Store, to be main sponsor.

Chairman Colin Brookes added: “Mike has done a great job. The club is now in a good position both on and off the field and there is no reason why that can’t continue.”