DAVID Baldwin still possesses the flying licence he earned while living in Spain.

The cynics may suggest that could offer a handy escape route if the stress and strain become too much as the EFL’s new chief executive.

Baldwin, who officially starts today, could not be taking up the role at a more critical and unparalleled time.

If he thought the size of the task was big enough when he accepted it in December, just look at how much it has magnified during the six months’ notice he has served at Burnley.

It’s safe to say the words “global pandemic” were never brought up during the extensive interviewing process to find the right replacement for Shaun Harvey.

The previous Valley Parade old boy left the post last summer with a golden handshake – but farewells from fans were more of the two-fingered variety.

Harvey’s legacy was the deeply unpopular admission of Premier League under-23 teams to further water down an unpopular Football League Trophy.

The second man to follow the path from City chief executive to that of the governing body is likely to receive a far more favourable reception.

Clubs already acknowledge Baldwin as a man who has been at the coal face and appreciates the individual nuances affecting each level of the competition.

He celebrated Championship title success with Burnley in 2016; equally, with his City hat on five years earlier, he saw his boyhood club stay in the Football League by the seat of their pants.

The financial pressure placed on the lower reaches now by the shutting down of any income since March is one of the biggest problems dominating the EFL.

How many more will follow Bury and, regardless of past honours and history, simply drop out of the picture?

Macclesfield, a club Baldwin will remember well as regular opponents during his seven years at Valley Parade, remain an issue that refuse to go away.

Already docked 11 points over late payments of wages, an EFL ruling is expected by the end of the week on a third charge.

The identity of who will finish bottom and drop out of League Two – Macclesfield or Stevenage – will hinge on what punishment is dished out.

Baldwin and the EFL will also be keeping a watching brief on what happens with the National League and their decision on promotion and relegation.

A closed-shop scenario blocking teams from coming up from the regional divisions is not likely to go down well higher up the pyramid.

The in-tray greeting Baldwin is going to be a bulging one when he can finally get his feet under the desk – likely to be three days a week in Preston and two in London.

He has been working from home since March while remaining on Burnley’s pay roll until yesterday. His lockdown has been a busy one.

Having handed over the chief executive position at Turf Moor to Neil Hart, the last six weeks have been spent juggling between club matters and sitting in on EFL meetings.

Burnley were happy to allow Baldwin to lend a hand early while the governing body try to pick up the pieces from the coronavirus fall-out.

He goes into the job with eyes wide open – and acutely aware of the many challenges to be faced at an organisation that has been dragged through the mire.

Baldwin’s marketing background, where it all began in football when the newly-formed ownership duo of Julian Rhodes and Mark Lawn made him one of their first “signings” in 2007, is likely to come in handy.

He may not be asked to dust off the Father Christmas costume that famously launched a season-ticket drive as “Santa Dave” but Baldwin’s PR skills are sorely needed.

Many supporters have lost faith with the EFL, whose image has been sinking since Harvey invited the big boys to gate-crash a cup previously aimed solely at giving lower-league teams the chance of a Wembley jolly.

The fiasco with Bury, not to mention Bolton as well, and the drawn-out process of deciding how to finish the current season has further undermined confidence in the stands.

The long-term goal for Baldwin will be to help sustain the EFL as a robust organisation for the years to come.

The immediate aim must be about improving the perception among fans that the people in charge actually know what they are doing.

If ever there was a time for strong leadership in football, beneath the Premier League especially, it is now.

This is no flight of fancy for Baldwin, who had best strap himself in for his fair share of turbulence.