HENDRICK REFUSES NEW DEAL AS DYCHE EYES BURNLEY EXIT
SEAN DYCHE is considering leaving Burnley at the end of the season due to the deterioration in his relationship with chairman Mike Garlick, which other senior figures at the club fear is fractured beyond repair. The Burnley manager has been frustrated by the club’s failure to agree contract extensions for several senior players this summer, as revealed by Sportsmail last month, and has become further disillusioned in recent days after being told there will be little money for new signings when the transfer window opens next month. Dyche has two years left on his contract which if completed would see him spend almost 10 years at the club, but he could walk away prematurely, which given his outstanding record at Turf Moor would alert a host of Premier League clubs. Crystal Palace and West Ham have both sounded out the 48-year-old in the past, while Bournemouth and Aston Villa would want to speak him if they are in the market for a new manager this summer in the event of relegation. Burnley’s players are aware of Dyche’s feelings, with his possible departure understood to be the talk of the dressing room, which would leave many of them devastated. The club are also beginning to make contingency plans in case Dyche does leave, with Bristol City manager Lee Johnson and welltravelled boss Mark Hughes seen as possible candidates to replace him. Dyche took the unusual step of going public with his misgivings this week after he was unable to name the full compliment of substitutes for Burnley’s 5-0 defeat to Manchester City, saying the club’s contract situation was an unnecessary error the Board had to learn from. Despite this criticism there is no chance of Dyche (right) being sacked however, not least as doing so would cost Burnley £3million in compensation. Dyche enjoyed a significant victory yesterday when defender Phil Bardsley signed a oneyear contract extension, but he remains frustrated that midfield player Jeff Hendrick will leave the matchday squad for the defeat at Manchester City on Monday, with Dyche citing the contract situation of those whose deals were on the point of expiration. ‘The club was unable to agree terms on a new deal with the Republic of Ireland international,’ Burnley confirmed on their website Aaron Lennon and Joe Hart have not been offered a new contract of any sort.
WATCHING BRIEF: Burnley v Watford, 6pm, Sky Sports Premier League/Pick.