DYCHE COULD WALK AWAY OVER DISPUTE WITH BOARD

transfer window opens next month. Dyche has two years remaining 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 sounded out the 48-year-old in the past, and Bournemouth and Aston Villa would want to speak to him if they are in the market for a new manager this summer.

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 boss Lee Johnson and Mark Hughes seen as possible candidates.

Dyche took the unusual step of going public with his misgivings this week after he was unable to name the full complement of substitutes for Burnley’s 5-0 loss to Manchester City, saying the club’s contract situation was an unnecessary error that the board needed to learn from.

Dyche enjoyed a significant victory yesterday when defender Phil Bardsley signed a one-year contract extension, but he remains frustrated that midfield player Jeff Hendrick will leave the club after being offered a new deal on significantly worse terms than his existing contract.

Aaron Lennon and Joe Hart have not been offered a new contract of any sort.