Burnley’s decision to part company with long-serving manager Sean Dyche has been branded ‘idiotic’ by former and Blackburn star Chris Sutton.
The 50-year-old had been the longest-serving manager at any Premier League club having taken charge in October 2012, but was shown the door with his side 18th in the Premier League and four points from safety, having won only four matches all season.
The surprise decision brings to an end a reign in which Dyche twice gained promotion from the Championship and regularly overachieved on a small budget, including a seventh-placed finish in 2018 which earned a play-off place.
In September Dyche signed a new contract, due to run until the summer of 2025. His popularity at Burnley was such that a pub across the road from Turf Moor has been named after him.
Alan Pace’s ALK Capital, who took over the club in December 2020, had indicated that securing Dyche’s future was key to their long-term vision for the club, but they have now dispensed with him in the belief the move can save their season.
Sutton, however, who won the Premier League title while playing for Burnley’s fierce local rivals, struggled to comprehend the decision to sack Dyche almost a week after last weekend’s defeat at Norwich.
He wrote on Twitter: ‘Burnley are idiotic sacking Sean Dyche.’
Those sentiments were echoed by Sky Sports pundit and former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, who responded directly to Burnley’s statement on Twitter, saying: ‘What a joke! If you had given him a decent budget you would never have had a worry about getting relegated.’
Explaining how he had come to the decision to end Dyche’s tenure, meanwhile, Pace said that recent results had simply left him without an alternative option.
He said: ‘Firstly, we would like to place on record our sincere thanks to Sean and his staff for their achievements at the club over the last decade.
‘During his time at Turf Moor, Sean has been a credit both on and off the pitch, respected by players, staff, supporters, and the wider football community.
‘However, results this season have been disappointing and, while this was an incredibly difficult decision, with eight crucial games of the campaign remaining, we feel a change is needed to give the squad the best possible chance of retaining its Premier League status.’
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