Burnley eyeing Leicester City manager hijack as Steven Gerrard alternative | OneFootball

Burnley are still searching for a permanent successor to Scott Parker

Burnley are searching for a new head coach following their decision to part ways with Scott Parker towards the end of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign.

The 45-year-old guided the Clarets to promotion to the Premier League in 2025 with a second place finish in the Championship.

However, the Lancashire outfit suffered the drop with a 19th place finish, which led to Parker’s exit.

The club will be keen to appoint a successor capable of bringing the team back to the top flight at the first attempt.

A number of names have been linked to the vacancy, including Steven Gerrard, Craig Bellamy and Brian Barry-Murphy, but there has been no confirmation on who will take charge.

It is set to be a busy summer ahead at Turf Moor, as the next head coach will want to shape the first team squad to their liking once they are officially appointed.

Burnley eye Russell Martin move

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It has been reported by journalist Rudy Galetti that Burnley are interested in the potential appointment of Russell Martin.

The Clarets are still weighing up their options, and it’s believed that the club’s new advisor Monchi has begun background checks on the former Southampton boss.

Martin is currently out of work, and it was reported over the weekend that he is in advanced talks with Leicester City.

However, he has yet to take charge at the Foxes, which could open the door for the Championship side to hijack the move.

Martin’s most recent role in football came with Rangers, where he survived just a few months before being dismissed in October of last year.

He has previously won promotion to the Premier League with the Saints, leading the club to a play-off final victory over Leeds United in 2024.

But he was sacked by the Hampshire outfit by December of that year, with the team heading towards relegation from the division.

The 40-year-old has also previously managed Swansea City and MK Dons, and has earned a reputation for sticking strictly to his possession-based style of play.

It remains to be seen whether Burnley will appoint Martin in place of Parker, or if Leicester can get a deal over the line.

It is clear that he is in demand this summer, with clubs still putting their plans in place ahead of pre-season.

It’s expected that developments could move quickly with Martin, particularly given the interest surrounding his services now.

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Russell Martin move would make sense for Burnley

Martin’s reputation has taken a bit of a hit over the last 12 months due to the manner of his firings at Southampton and Rangers.

However, he still has a proven track record at this level, and he has a vision for his team that will make him appealing to clubs at this level.

While it may be a bit slow to work at first, his Southampton side were excellent by the time the play-offs came around, and he achieved promotion success.

While the Leicester job is one of the more appealing options you could get in League One, the alternative of working for a Championship side with promotion ambitions will surely make Burnley the obvious choice between the two right now.