Due to his financial stake in the club and his business expertise, many supporters feel he would be the ideal candidate to take over on a permanent basis, particularly as the search for a successor has not yet thrown up a suitable candidate, other than former Bank of England governor general Howard Davies.

However, Wardle, who also claimed there had been no decision on the transfer budget which would be made available to manager Kevin Keegan this summer, says there is no chance of him still being in charge for the start of the new season.

“It feels like I have been doing the job for about 17 months,” he told BBC GMR.

“The chairman’s role doesn’t suit me, I would much prefer just to be a supporter and help out whenever I can.

“When David Bernstein left it was natural for me to bridge the gap because I knew what was going on at the club and continuity is important.

“People have asked me to stay on, which is very nice, but while I will stay with it until the end of the season, after that we have to look very hard because we don’t want anymore upsets.”

There has been talk that former managing director Chris Bird, who quit at the same time as Bernstein after a behind-the-scenes fall-out, had been earmarked for a summer return, if not in the chairman’s role, then heavily involved in the day-to-day management.

However, Wardle insisted this is unlikely to happen.

“Chris Bird put in five very valuable years at this club. When he came here, the club was on its backside and he hauled it round.

"The same could also be said of David Bernstein but I very much doubt either of them will come back,” he said.

And as for Keegan’s transfer budget, Wardle claimed talks with the manager had not even taken place yet.

“We need to see how the season finishes and then talk to Kevin,” he said.

“He will no doubt tell us how he feels and what he would like but there have been no big decisions yet, we still have that to come.”