Nonetheless, although far from a two-man team, the controversial departure of McIlroy to Stoke City (1963) and Adamson's retirement (1964) coincided with a decline in fortunes. Even more damaging was the impact of the abolition of the maximum wage in 1961, which meant clubs from small towns, like Burnley, could no longer compete financially with sides from bigger towns and cities. The team managed, however, to retain a First Division place throughout the decade, and even finished third in 1965–66 to qualify for the 1966–67 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.