Sean Dyche eyeing Burnley exit at end of season due to breakdown in relationship with chairman Mike Garlick over contract extension woes and lack of budget for transfer window

  • Manager Sean Dyche has two years left on his current contract at Burnley
  • But he could walk away prematurely from his deal due to growing frustrations 
  • He is disappointed by the failure to agree contract extensions for senior players

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 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. 

Manager Sean Dyche is considering leaving Burnley at the end of the current season

Manager Sean Dyche is considering leaving Burnley at the end of the current season

There has been a breakdown in his relationship with Burnley chairman Mike Garlick

There has been a breakdown in his relationship with Burnley chairman Mike Garlick

Crystal Palace and West Ham have both sounded the 48-year-old out 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 well-travelled boss Mark Hughes seen as possible candidates to replace him as both would be comfortable working with Burnley's largely British squad.

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 defeat to Manchester City, saying the club's contract situation was an unnecessary error which the board needed to learn from. 

Burnley will lose midfielder Jeff Hendrick when his contract expires later this month

Burnley will lose midfielder Jeff Hendrick when his contract expires later this month

Dyche said the contract situation was an unnecessary error that had to be learned from

Dyche said the contract situation was an unnecessary error that had to be learned from

Despite this criticism there is no chance of Dyche being sacked however, not least as doing so would cost Burnley £3million in compensation.

Dyche enjoyed a significant victory on Wednesday 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.

Bristol City manager Lee Johnson would be considered as a possible replacement for Dyche

Bristol City manager Lee Johnson would be considered as a possible replacement for Dyche