Well, that wasn't the news we were expecting on a Friday morning. Sean Dyche has been sacked by Burnley, ending his near decade long stint as manager of the club.
The decision has come as a major shock. While Burnley are in a perilous position in the Premier League with eight games to go, there were few rumblings about Dyche's position at the club. He is synonymous with Turf Moor and it was widely expected that he would be given the opportunity to try and earn promotion next season in the event that they did go down.
However, they have opted to move in a new direction in an attempt to salvage their place in the division.
Burnley Football Club can confirm the Club has parted company with manager Sean Dyche, assistant manager Ian Woan, first-team coach Steve Stone and goalkeeping coach Billy Mercer.
— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) April 15, 2022
Chairman Alan Pace felt this move gives them the best chance of avoiding relegation in the weeks ahead.
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.
However, not many seem to share that opinion.
Considering the job Sean Dyche has done in keeping the club in the Premier League over the last number of years, most onlookers can't believe that they have gotten rid of him at this stage of the season.
What a joke!
If you had given him a decent budget you would never have had a worry about getting relegated. https://t.co/uIG7bL2nUl— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) April 15, 2022
Burnley are idiotic sacking Sean Dyche
— Chris Sutton (@chris_sutton73) April 15, 2022
Feel like my eyes just popped out their sockets. What a horrible decision from Burnley. Dyche worked wonders with a modest budget and is often hailed by his players for being completely unflappable when the going gets tough. I hope he goes on to bigger and better things. #Dyche https://t.co/oAaZty5nLk
— Nicky Crosby (@CrosbyNicky) April 15, 2022
That feels a pretty unsavoury way to end Sean Dyche's spell as Burnley manager, given everything he has achieved at that club. Worked miracles to keep them in the Premier League, he was still their best shout of survival. Absolutely amazed at that decision
— Tyrone Marshall (@TyMarshall_MEN) April 15, 2022
‘a change is needed’
If you think that the reason we’re going down is because of dyche u need ur head checked, no manager could do better with the teams we’ve had, I’m actually certain of that pic.twitter.com/HsPlcq0vMj— 𝓑𝓻𝓮𝔁𝓲𝓽𝓥𝓲𝓷𝓬𝓮𝓷𝓽™️🇮🇪 (@BrexitKompany) April 15, 2022
You don't just sack Sean Dyche
— Samuel Marsden (@samuelmarsden) April 15, 2022
I cannot believe im standing up for Sean Dyche, but are Burnley stupid?!
— John O'Sullivan (@NotoriousJOS) April 15, 2022
Sean Dyche being sacked by Burnley is one of the dumbest decisions ever. He’s the only reason they have been relevant in the Premier League for so long. Expect them to go down this season & stay down for a very long time.
— Jack (@UtdJackkkk) April 15, 2022
Sean Dyche is one of the most likeable characters in the Premier League and what he has done with that Burnley side with the resources available to him borders on a miracle, to get rid of him now is just baffling and he'll definitely walk into another side
— Casey Evans (@Casey_Evans_) April 15, 2022
The reason Burnley are an established Premier League side who are incredibly hard to beat is because of Sean Dyche.
There’s a lack of quality in the squad, and sacking Dyche means they’re now guaranteed to go down.
Baffling.— Alexei (@MUFC_redarmy99) April 15, 2022
It's hard to disagree with any of that.
As it turns out, losing to Norwich might just be a sackable offence at this point.
It remains to be seen who Burnley will appoint his replacement, although the timing is hardly ideal. The new manager will have very little time to implement any changes to the team's playing style, meaning whoever comes in will likely follow a similar template to the one used by Sean Dyche.
In that case, would it not have been better to just keep the Englishman?
While things are likely to move quickly, Sam Allardyce is the favourite for the position as things stand.
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