Why did Burnley sack Sean Dyche? Exploring the reasons behind the latest managerial casualty

To the surprise of many football fans, Burnley sacked manager Sean Dyche – a decision that sent shockwaves across the Premier League. He was the longest-serving manager in the league but not anymore. Burnley are four points from safety and have a total of eight games to turn around their fortunes. They have won only four times all season in the league – a worrying stat for the club. Nonetheless, what Dyche has done during his time with the club is beyond imaginable. He took a side that was struggling to make it to the Premier League and turned them into a regular top-flight club. 

However, Burnley’s struggles this season have been well-documented and the board believes that the new manager can still help them salvage the season in the final eight games. Only time will tell if it is the right call, but for now, they have to head in a different direction. For the match against West Ham United on Sunday, U23s coach Mike Jackson, assisted by academy director Paul Jenkins, U23s goalkeeping coach Connor King and club captain Ben Mee have been asked to take charge of the team.

READ MORE – Sean Dyche departs Burnley after nine-and-a-half years at the club

Why was Sean Dyche sacked by Burnley?

It is a question that is difficult to answer. Taking into account their form and position in the Premier League table, one might not argue with the decision taken by Burnley’s board. They have accumulated 24 points from 30 games and only four times they have won all season in the league. The Clarets are now four points behind 17th-placed Everton in the standings.

Burnley have won only once in the last seven matches. It was an inspirational come-from-behind victory over fellow relegation struggler Everton. That win gave them a great chance of getting out of the bottom three places but they immediately blew it by losing to the last-placed Norwich City a few days later. The 2-0 defeat against another relegation battling club could not have come at the worst time for Sean Dyche. Keeping this in mind, Burnely might have felt a change in the guard could still help them stay in the top flight.

Having said that what Sean Dyche has achieved in the past nine-and-a-half years with Burnley is unbelievable. After becoming the manager of Burnley in October 2012, the 50-year-old Englishman has played a huge part in establishing the side as one of the Premier League regulars. 

READ MORE – Fernandinho leaves Pep Guardiola stunned, announces decision to leave City

A look back at Sean Dyche’s time with Burnley

Sean Dyche helped Burnley secure two promotions from the Championship, with his last one coming in the 2015-16 season. He famously guided the club to a seventh-place finish in the 2017-18 campaign. All this he managed with a minimal budget. 

That is why Dyche is respected a lot by other coaches. How he has turned Turf Moor into a difficult place for any club to travel during his time with the Clarets deserves special mention. Managers at the bottom of the table are judged differently from those at the top. Keeping that in mind what Sean Dyche has done during his time with the club will always be cherished by their fans.

Burnley have a tough fixture list coming up. Whoever takes charge of the club will have a monumental task at hand to help them survive the relegation drop. Starting with a trip away to West Ham, they still have to play Aston Villa twice and also have a tough assignment at Tottenham Hotspur. It will take a huge effort from the coaching staff to the players in order to help Burnley stay in the Premier League next season.

Burnley’s remaining Premier League fixtures