Burnley are currently 18th in the table, four points away from safety. They have won just one of their last seven games in the Premier League, losing 2-0 to Norwich, who are relegated on Sunday. U23s coach Mike Jackson, assisted by academy director Paul Jenkins, U23 goalkeeping coach Connor King and team leader Ben Mee were called in to take charge of the team for Sunday’s game against West Ham. Sky Sports News understands from sources close to the players that Dyche had not lost the dressing room, despite their difficult position. Dietz is no longer the longest-serving manager in the Premier League, having spent almost a decade at Burnley. He temporarily joined the England U21 behind-the-scenes staff in September 2012, soon taking over Burnley from Eddie Howe, who was leaving in October of that year. The 50-year-old led Burnley to two promotions from the Championship, the last of which came in the 2015/16 season. After signing a new four-year contract in September 2018, he led Burnley to seventh place in the Premier League. The achievement saw Burnley secure Europa League football for the first time in 51 years and its best conquest at the top since sixth place in 1974. Burnley achieved another finish in the top-10 in the 2019/20 season, but finished in 17th place last season. However, this was 11 points difference from the last three. President Alan Pace said in a statement: “First of all, we would like to express our sincere thanks to Sean and his staff for their achievements in the Association over the last decade. Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player FREE ATTENTION: Snapshots from Norwich’s win over Burnley in the Premier League “During his tenure at Turf Moor, Sean was a credit both on and off the pitch, to the respect of the players, the staff, the supporters and the wider football community. “However, the results this season have been disappointing and, while it was an incredibly difficult decision, with eight crucial games left in the season, we feel a change is needed to give the team the best chance of maintaining its place in the Premier League. . “Sean’s replacement process has begun and further announcements will be made to supporters in due course.” Assistant manager Ian Wan, first team coach Steve Stone and goalkeeping coach Billy Mercer have also left the club. Sky Sports coach Jamie Carragher later wrote on Twitter: “How funny! If you had given him a decent budget, you would never have been worried about relegation.”
Analysis: Dates leaves as a Burnley legend
Sky Sports Nick Wright: When Sean Dyche was appointed to Turf Moor in October 2012, he inherited a team that was 14th in the Championship table having conceded the most goals in the division. Over the next decade, he would oversee a complete transformation of the club, winning promotion to the Premier League in 2014 and again in 2016 after a brief return to the second division. Ditch was Burnley’s third coaching appointment in two years after Brian Lowe and Eddie Howe, but all that turmoil soon became a distant memory as the club became a symbol of stability. At the end of the 2019/20 season, after Burnley finished in 10th place and Howe was relegated to Bournemouth, Dietz became even the longest-serving coach in the Premier League. The culmination of his tenure at Burnley remains their excellent position in 7th place in 2017/18, but it is what he has done for the club as a whole, establishing his presence in the first division with a budget much smaller than his rivals and forming a unique identity on and off the field, which the fans will love more. The team’s struggles this season have prompted the club to take action, but it is a testament to Dyche’s excellent work that even now, with the risk of relegation appearing high, his dismissal is a big shock. It is a bet that their owners may regret.
The rest of Burnley games
April 17 – West Ham (a) April 21 – Southampton (live), live on Sky Sports April 24 – Wolves (h) April 30 – Watford (a) May 7 – Aston Villa May 15 – Tottenham Hotspur May 19 – Aston Villa (a) May 22 – Newcastle (h)
