Paying crazy fees would ruin us says boss

SEAN DYCHE will not bankrupt Burnley by spending “crazy” money in the transfer market.

And the Clarets boss insists he is not jealous of similar-sized clubs who have splashed the cash.

Dyche worked miracles with the smallest budget in the top flight to guide Burnley into seventh spot in the Premier League last season and their first European campaign for more than half a century.

But that success could come back to haunt the club, who will need a bigger squad to cope with the extra games.

They will play 12 fixtures – six qualifiers and six group games – just to reach the knockout stages of Europe’s second tier competition and an incredible 21 if they were to go all the way to the final.

Balance

But ahead of tonight’s Europa League second qualifying round second leg with Aberdeen, Dyche refused to press the panic button with the transfer deadline only a week away.

He said: “I’m not concerned. The club has to balance the books and the numbers are crazy. It is certainly a seller’s market.

“There are players I’ve rung up about and when you hear their wages you wouldn’t believe it.

“The so-called bargains are not bargains any more.

“You see a player go for £7m and think, ‘Eh?’

“Brighton’s owner is wealthy, Fulham’s owner is virtually a billionaire. There is no jealousy. They’ve all got their own ideas of what they want to do.

“I want to do that but I wouldn’t do it at the cost of a club.”

Burnley’s highest-paid player is understood to earn around £40,000 a week, way below the top-flight average.

And Dyche doubts whether the Lancashire club can continue to punch above their weight.

He added: “The market will probably outrun us at some point. The numbers run away faster than you can keep up.”

But he just wants the players and fans to enjoy their excursion into Europe, regardless of concerns over its effect on their Premier League results.

He said: “If you have seen the progression over the last six years and then you have got a chance of a mini-period in Europe, would you take it? I think you would.”

Dyche’s cause has not been helped by England’s No.3 goalkeeper Nick

Pope being ruled out of action for several months after an operation to repair the shoulder he dislocated in last week’s first leg 1-1 draw at Pittodrie.

With Tom Heaton nursing a calf strain, Anders Lindegaard will step in tonight while the Clarets have asked governing body UEFA for special dispensation to register No.4 goalkeeper Adam Legzdins.