Burnley eye Cardiff City managerial raid after Scott Parker exit | OneFootball

The Clarets are in need of a new man in the hotseat ahead of their Championship return

Burnley's relegation from the Premier League back to the Championship was mathematically confirmed after a 1-0 defeat to Manchester City last Tuesday, and now the Clarets are preparing for life beyond Scott Parker.

The former Tottenham Hotspur and England midfielder was appointed at Turf Moor in the summer of 2024 following Vincent Kompany's own departure to Bayern Munich after another of the club's recent relegations back to the second tier, and has since endured mixed fortunes.

Parker, like he was able to do in charge of Fulham and AFC Bournemouth, guided Burnley to promotion in his first season in charge, as a team which conceded a remarkably low tally of just 16 goals hit the 100-point mark, but were pipped to the Championship title on goal difference by Leeds United.

However, after an intriguing summer which saw the likes of influential goalscoring midfielder, Josh Brownhill, and England international goalkeeper, James Trafford, depart, the Clarets have very rarely looked like reconsolidating their position back in the Premier League, and they have already joined Wolverhampton Wanderers as a relegated side with four matches still to be played.

Following the spirited defeat to the Citizens, it emerged that Parker's future in BB10 was in doubt, despite the fact he was still under contract until June 2027.

However, after exit talk continued to surround the 45-year-old in recent days, a feeling of inevitability over his departure grew further and further, and it was confirmed on Thursday morning.

Speculation was already rife as to who will replace Parker at Turf Moor, with former Liverpool legend, Steven Gerrard, heavily linked with the vacancy, as well as former Burnley assistant and Wales boss, Craig Bellamy.

However, it has also emerged that Bellamy isn't the only man with Welsh connections who is on Alan Pace's radar, whilst Mike Jackson will take interim charge of the North West side, starting with an away trip to Leeds on Friday.

Burnley FC plot Cardiff City raid for Brian Barry-Murphy following Scott Parker exit

Indeed, it has been reported by BBC Sport that the East Lancashire outfit have also identified Cardiff City head coach, Brian Barry-Murphy as a potential candidate to take up the vacant hotseat at Turf Moor.

Burnley and the Bluebirds have been regular divisional competitors in recent times in the Premier League and Championship, although they ventured off in different directions for this season after the Clarets' promotion and Cardiff's relegation to League One for the first time since 2003 this time last year.

However, the Irishman has performed admirably at the Cardiff City Stadium in what is his first season inside a three-year deal, which expires in June 2028 at present.

The South Wales side, despite having the second-youngest squad by average age in League One, will finish the season in second place behind champions, Lincoln City, whilst sitting a remarkable 16 points in front of third-placed Bolton Wanderers with one game to go against Mansfield Town at Field Mill.

Beforehand, Barry-Murphy's only experience of senior management came with Rochdale, before enjoying a successful stint as Elite Development Squad manager at Manchester City and a spell on the coaching staff at .

Brian Barry-Murphy appointment would be an interesting avenue for Burnley to go down

Other names linked with the hotseat in the wake of Parker's exit include two-time promotion winner at Turf Moor, Sean Dyche, as well as Thomas Frank, who Football League World exclusively revealed, could be eyed up by Birmingham City if Chris Davies was to leave St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park.

For all of Barry-Murphy's strong credentials for assembling successful squads full of youthfulness and energy, some would see this as a huge risk for both the Cardiff boss and Burnley, given he is yet to manage in the Championship.

However, this isn't the first time the 47-year-old has been the subject of exit talk, as he was linked with the Middlesbrough vacancy back in November before the Teesside club moved to replace Rob Edwards with Kim Hellberg.