Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
DYCHE CASH CRASH
Clarets boss warned owners over lack of investment
SEAN DYCHE has revealed that he warned Burnley’s new owners they would face a relegation battle this season, due to the chronic underinvestment at Turf Moor.
Ahead of today’s crucial trip to rockbottom Norwich City, the Clarets remain stuck in the Premier League drop zone – a position they have occupied since September.
But this campaign’s struggles have not come as a surprise to Dyche, who had advised owners ALK Capital that there was a rocky road ahead.
“I told the owners this was likely, the probability was for a toughish period,” Dyche said. “I felt there was a crossover period the club was going to hit, because the last three years the investment levels weren’t where they needed to be
– for what became the obvious reason when the club got sold.
“I explained to the new ownership that’s what it would be. I explained it would be a tough period. Maybe not this tough because I was expecting a bit better than this, but I said it wouldn’t be a walk in the park because regeneration that should have been done three years ago hadn’t been.
“So now you have to regenerate quickly. We started the process with Connor Roberts, Nathan Collins, and Maxwel Cornet. Wout Weghorst came in later with Chris Wood leaving.
“We are on the right lines. Even with a new ownership, a bit more openminded six-pointer today, Dyche was asked if with bringing in players from such big games are typically a time in afar, you can’t regenerate overnight which he brings out rousing speeches. unless you put in nowadays. He replied: “If it feels right, then for “It could cost £90million. Newcastle me it’s always just the basics, keep it spent £90m in January. really simple, don’t overload them with “With us we are piecing it information. Sometimes the together, so there has to your “They know the script, be a bit of reality. Is it going players need or they should know the to be easy? No, it’s not voice, sometimes script. We’ve done the they know going to be easy to analysis and planning, so remodel and get players by the time you get to the point when in who can play in the Premier you’re going to play they should know. League.” “In my opinion, if you’re making Last time out, Burnley beat fellow loads of changes an hour before strugglers Everton 3-2 at Turf Moor, kick-off then you’ve probably not to close the gap on 17th place to a prepped enough. single point – until the Toffees “When we get to that point, we judge beat Manchester United the mood and then say, ‘These are the yesterday. basics we spoke about, this is what our As his Clarets prepared expectation is, and you have the for another relegation freedom to go and deliver’. “Sometimes the players need your voice, sometimes they know. “Sometimes I’ll ask them what they think at half-time and they’ll nail it virtually every time because they know. “And you’ll go, ‘Well why didn’t you say that when you were out there?’”
NORWICH