BURNLEY TAKEOVER CAN’T COME SOON ENOUGH

IT will be just after midday on America’s east coast when Alan Pace, the man who wants the keys to Turf Moor, settles down to stream what is a big night for Burnley. The sort of night that, even though they are only three matches into this season, will define the next few weeks. While describing the trip to West Brom as mustwin might be premature, Burnley — three defeats from three — could really do with avoiding a fourth. They are a club plodding along. Takeover talks with ALK Capital, headed by Pace, are said to be positive but dragging on longer than the Americans expected. There remains a rival party, funded by money from Egypt and dubai. Chairman Mike Garlick has met Pace — former chief executive of Real Salt Lake in MLS — a number of times in the north west but has not struck a deal. Friday’s domestic transfer deadline went without Sean dyche being able to bolster a threadbare squad. dyche’s frustration at the lack of activity is well-known, and his relationship with Garlick at its lowest ebb since taking the manager’s job in 2012. There is also conflict between dyche and technical director Mike Rigg, with the pair not on the same page on the sort of new signing Burnley should be attracting. The essence is as follows: dyche wants players to improve the quality of his starting XI, believing the club — now in a fifth consecutive Premier League season — is in a position to stretch its financial parameters. But money is not available for those players. dyche has vetoed certain targets, understood to include Harry Wilson. And so, nobody of consequence has arrived beyond dale Stephens from Brighton for £1.5million and dyche is left praying his key men stay fit. The team is more than good enough to finish mid table providing they encounter no fitness problems. The players are exasperated at the impasse between manager and board, struggling to understand the logic behind a lack of fresh blood. In fact, the only good news recently has been their exit from the Carabao Cup. What is left is for dyche to somehow garner the maximum out of this squad and defy the odds. Again. That should prove slightly easier with captain Ben Mee ready for a return and James Tarkowski back in the side. It could be a bleak autumn. Tottenham, Chelsea, Manchester City, Everton and Arsenal make up five of the next seven games. Every defeat makes Burnley, even with their spanking new training ground and Category 1 academy, a higher risk investment for those looking to take over. If points are not forthcoming then that represents a problem for the seller, Garlick. Pace will be watching today’s developments with interest.