Craig Bellamy set for Burnley FC return? How much Alan Pace must really pay to seal deal revealed | OneFootball

Wales boss Craig Bellamy is in the frame to replace Scott Parker as the next permanent Burnley boss

Burnley are on the hunt to appoint a new head coach after parting company with Scott Parker, and Wales boss Craig Bellamy is in the frame.

The Clarets have already been relegated from the Premier League back to the Championship, and Michael Jackson will oversee their remaining top-flight games on an interim basis.

Parker successfully steered the Lancashire outfit to automatic promotion from the second tier last season, but he was unable to adjust to the challenges posed by the Premier League.

Burnley are now vying to return to the top flight in 2027, and their decision regarding who to appoint as their next boss will be key to whether they achieve that lofty ambition.

Craig Bellamy is in the frame to become the next Burnley boss - but how much compensation will Clarets have to pay Wales?

Bellamy was previously a first-team coach for the Clarets during Vincent Kompany's managerial reign, having first worked together at Anderlecht, so it is no surprise that his name has entered the conversation to replace Parker.

Like Parker, Kompany led the Turf Moor club to promotion from the Championship to the Premier League, but was unable to keep them in the top flight.

However, the Belgian is now viewed as one of the best managers in Europe, and could steer Bayern Munich to Champions League glory this term.

Meanwhile, as per Ben Jacobs on X, Burnley have shown interest in appointing both Bellamy and Steven Gerrard as Parker's successor.

Bellamy was ultimately unsuccessful in his bid to guide Wales to this summer's World Cup, as his side were beaten on penalties by Bosnia and Herzegovina in March's play-off semi-final.

Sergej Barbarez's men went on to reach this summer's tournament by defeating Italy in the play-off final, a tie which was also decided by a shootout.

Bellamy is under contract in his current job until the end of the 2028 European Championship and, according to BBC Sport Wales' Dafydd Pritchard on X, his release clause would be over £700,000, should Burnley complete their swoop for the 46-year-old's services.

Euro 2028 factor may stop Craig Bellamy making Burnley switch

Even though Bellamy ultimately failed to guide Wales to the World Cup, he has largely performed well in charge of the nation he used to play for.

They made a good account of themselves in entertaining, narrow losses to Belgium in 2025, and also enjoyed an emphatic 7-1 win over North Macedonia last November.

Meanwhile, Wales are one of the co-hosts of Euro 2028, alongside England, Scotland, and the Republic of Ireland.

All four nations will have to navigate qualifiers, rather than being handed automatic qualification, but two spots will be allocated to the highest-ranked of those sides who don't make it.

Therefore, there is a strong chance that Wales will qualify for a tournament that they are co-hosting, and it is probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Bellamy to manage in that scenario.

With that in mind, the former Cardiff City winger will likely opt against managing Burnley, even if the Clarets are willing to pay his release clause.

Fellow candidate Gerrard, on the other hand, is currently out of work, and managing a North West club is a convenient option for the Liverpudlian.