Burnley close in on new manager appointment | OneFootball

Burnley are advancing in talks with Genk manager Nicky Hayen

Burnley's search for a new manager has lasted a lot longer than the higher-ups at Turf Moor ideally hoped, but the Clarets are advancing in their talks with a new candidate.

Burnley have been without a permanent man in the dugout for over two months now, after they parted ways with Scott Parker following their relegation back to the Championship being confirmed.

It seemed as if former assistant coach at Turf Moor and current Wales National Team boss Craig Bellamy was going to be the successor, despite reports in early June stating that he was committed to Wales ahead of their home European Championships in 2028.

The 46-year-old would perform a U-turn on that initial decision in late June, but the move fell through at the eleventh hour, with Burnley left to scramble for a new manager as pre-season loomed.

Former Wolves boss Rob Edwards rejected the opportunity to get straight back into the dugout at Turf Moor, and thus interim boss Mike Jackson was left to take the reins in the early stages of pre-season, as owner Alan Pace based himself at their training ground in Gawthorpe to try and accelerate the appointment of a new permanent head coach.

Burnley close in on Nicky Hayen as new manager

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There was hope across the weekend that Burnley could have a new manager in situ ahead of their trip to the USA for some pre-season friendlies over the coming week.

The Clarets jet off today, and while no official announcement has been made over a new head coach being hired, it's been reported by Pete O'Rourke that they're advancing in talks with Genk boss Nicky Hayen.

Barring a five-month stint in Wales with Haverfordwest County in 2022, Hayen's managerial career has taken place solely in his native Belgium, more recently right at the top of the Belgian Pro League.

The 45-year-old oversaw a title-winning campaign at Club Brugge in the 2023/24 term, before winning the Belgian Cup and the Belgian Super Cup the following year.

After leaving Brugge last December, he quickly found himself back at work for Genk, who were suffering an almighty hangover after winning the Pro League the year prior.

He steered them to a seventh-placed finish in the division, while they were knocked out of the Europa League at the Round of 16 phase against eventual runners-up SC Freiburg, despite winning the first leg in Belgium.

Hayen is highly regarded in the dugout in Belgium, but a move to Burnley would present a completely different challenge, as he'd be tasked with bringing immediate success to a club that has accumulated 201 points in their last two seasons in the Championship.

Burnley need a new manager quickly as pre-season progresses — Nicky Hayen news should be well-received

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It's safe to say that the longer the wait for a new manager goes on, the more restless Burnley fans are getting. Having no permanent man in situ leaves them falling behind their Championship rivals, who have been back in pre-season with their manager for a week now.

Nevertheless, while some Clarets fans will be happy with some advancement on the managerial front, they can be rather excited about the prospect of having Hayen in the dugout next year.

Online, Belgian football fans have been singing the 45-year-old's praises, and, evidently, they feel that Burnley have got themselves a coup in him.

"Woahhhhh!!! This is mega for Burnley! Superb at Club Brugge, I was thoroughly impressed," one said.

"Claret living in Belgium here, so know a thing or two about the Belgian league. I said to my Dad halfway through the season when he got sacked from Club Brugge we should have gone for him," another added.