Two Championship clubs keen on appointing Sean Dyche with eyes on promotion

Two Championship clubs are reported to be keen on appointing sacked Burnley manager Sean Dyche with the duos’ eyes on promotion next season.

West Brom and Stoke City are said to be looking at the out-of-work Dyche, who spent 10 years with the Clarets, overseeing 425 games and winning promotion from the second tier in 2016.

He kept Burnley in the Premier League since going up, but now after several seasons in the top flight, Dyche has been axed with the club set for a return to the EFL.

Various media outlets claim that both West Brom and Stoke City have Dyche on their ‘wanted list’ a potential summer appointment, with both sides finding it tough to return to the big time.

The Baggies were expected to go up this season under Valerien Ismael after he was appointed from Barnsley in the summer having guided them to the playoffs last season.

They started the season well, spending much of the first half of it in the top 3, but form tailed off over Christmas and he was sacked despite the club sitting 5th in February.

Steve Bruce was brought in as his replacement on a contract until the end of the season but it is being reported that there is a break clause in the summer.

Form has continued to dip, West Brom now sit 11th, five points from Sheffield United who are in the last playoffs place, with four games remaining.

“Rightly so, the club won’t accept it,” Bruce said. “We have to accept that we haven’t been good enough, and when you’re not good enough, you have to implement change.

“I hope I’m here to make it, but we’ll have to wait and see. That’s for other people to decide, not me.”

The managers at Stoke and Birmingham City are reportedly at a growing threat of getting the sack in the summer too.

Stoke boss Michael O’Neill has overseen a mixed campaign at the bet365 Stadium in which the highly fancied side haven’t challenged for promotion.

O’Neill has been in charge of the Potters since November 2019 and is under contract until the summer of 2023.

But with the club currently 15th in the Championship, they expect to settle for mid-table mediocrity this season.

As quoted by The Mirror last month (18 March), O’Neill admits that his side’s uninspiring form could cost him his job with Daniel Farke a potential contender for replacing him.

O’Neill admits he hasn’t been satisfied with the players’ recent efforts which could cost him his position. He assessed: “We have to show more and believe more.

“It isn’t good enough and won’t be good enough to keep them at this club. It will not be good enough to keep me at this club, I am honest enough to know that as well. We concede goals far too easy and lack a bit of physical presence upfront , there is no doubt about that.”

O’Neill has guided Stoke to 15th and 14th-place finishes in his first one-and-half seasons with the club.

Football Insider also report that Lee Bowyer, who has over a year left on his contract, is fighting for his job at Birmingham City even though the club are almost guaranteed now to stay up and avoid relegation this season.

Take away the points deducted from Derby and Reading however and you’ll find Birmingham in the relegation zone however.

Bowyer’s position is said to be under growing threat and there is a possibility he could be sacked before the season ends.

He is said to have a tense relationship with Craig Gardner, who was appointed technical director by the club last summer.

Bowyer secured an 18th-placed finish for Birmingham last season.

And there hasn’t been much improvement in this campaign, with the club currently 20th in the Championship with four games remaining.

He has won 17 of his 55 games in charge of the West Midlands outfit and has a point-per-game average of just 1.18.

Before Sean Dyche gets back on the touchline, he returned to his footballing roots to help him get over his sacking as Burnley manager.

Dyche was spotted over the Easter period having photos with fans in Nottingham city centre at various venues as he enjoyed a couple of drinks before then taking in a Manchester acts tribute night at Rock City.

@MikeGarraet1994 tweeted a picture of him alongside Dyche in the queue outside Rock City, saying: “Sacked on Friday. In Rock City on the lash on Sunday – I’m so here for Sean Dyche.”

@bristol_claret added: “Mate’s son bumped into Dyche at pub in Nottingham yesterday [Saturday]. Looks like the big man is managing to get over the trauma of Friday.”

Sacked on Friday. In Rock City on the lash on Sunday – I’m so here for Sean Dyche pic.twitter.com/tdqgZJ67DN

— Mike Garrett* (@MikeGarrett1994) April 17, 2022

Nottingham – Incredible show at @Rock_City_Notts again tonight. Huge thanks to @thecloneroses as always. Some special guests at tonight’s show too! Great to meet Sean Dyche and @stevenreid12. Lovely guys. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/sqNt9EvWhK

— Oas-is Tribute (@Oas_is_official) April 17, 2022

Mate’s son bumped into Dyche at pub in Nottingham yesterday. Looks like the big man is managing to get over the trauma of Friday #twitterclarets pic.twitter.com/sHBT3HW1j3

— Graham D (@bristol_claret) April 17, 2022

The Daily Mail say that he remains in talks with Burnley over a £15m contract settlement as fans are encouraged NOT to let their anger over decision impact the team’s pursuit of Premier League safety.

The figures have yet to be finalised with Dyche having agreed a new deal of around £100,000-a-week in September that was due to run until 2025. However neither side anticipate a problem in the negotiations.

Interim manager Mike Jackson, who has stepped up from running the under-23s, has said Burnley’s players need the full backing of the supporters.

‘I’m sure the fans will be hurting but they are good people and will pull behind the club,’ he said.

‘I think the biggest thing is for everyone to forget about the noise. The atmosphere they created against Everton was amazing. It made Turf Moor a hard place to come.

‘It’s been a shock to the players, that is human nature. But they are an experienced group. It is about the whole club coming together, bunkering in and concentrating on what we need to do.’

Fans reacted as two Championship clubs are keen on appointing Sean Dyche with eyes on promotion next season…

@GaryWilletts: Not for me, all these people saying yes, will be moaning about the style of football by Xmas

@Topbaggie14: 100%. Done it on a shoe string at Burnley, exactly what we need

@GREENBAYUK_: Absolute no brainier which means our board will fuck it up and keep Bruce on

@STAUNT0N: Dyche would do what Pulis did with Baggies and with the owner you have he’s perfect being able to work miracles on a shoestring budget, there’ll be a few after him

@EnoTheWonderdog: Only if we can have him for more than the usual 6 months! This whole period has been pathetic! Get a new manager – buy players that suit him just as we get a new manager in ad infinitum!

@steve8412: It’s not so much the manager it’s the attitude of the squad. A massive shake up of those who have played this season, get rid of them. Only a handful need to remain we need to rebuild a team which wants to win every game

@fletcher716: Would be good to see him at the baggies, but I think we should stick with Bruce for at least one full season give him some time….

@JDWBA2: Would be a good manager to work with a budget like ours, even if his football isn’t the best to watch. Bring Jay Rod with him as well 😄

@OpinionAndyy: Fans in the comments saying no… When in reality why would Dyche even come to us? He’ll be offered much bigger jobs this summer.

@callumbridge7: 100% would be stupid not to go for him absolutely the manager that is needed for a club like us.

@ItsSamson2: Well he’s everything Bruce is and more. Yes pragmatic and the football will be dross…think most have accepted we need a Megson style regrouping though and if it ensures our future then Dyche would take not only stabilise us but he’d also instill some strong mental discipline.

@BOBTAYL01081689: Yes. Will it happen…. Probably not as our shitty players would cry at being asked, again, to do their jobs and play /work hard. But it should happen and he should clear out the deadwood in the squad and backroom

@KyleJon3ss: Doesn’t matter who we get with these owners. We’ll be in the same boat. #WBA

@Nigelward1566: Two seasons ago he would of been a perfect fit. Now we need someone like Rooney, who can build a team of young players that would run through a brick wall for him. Players that give 110% every game.

@YouBaggies: Very strange the clamour on here about wanting Sean Dyche in, very much the same style we all wanted out mere weeks ago 🤔 #wba

@le_lebouf76: Nothing surprises me in football usually but Burnley sacking Sean Dyche is one of the rare moments I am – still with a chance of stopping up & who better if they do drop !!! He’s done an outstanding job at that football club – I’d love him at #wba that’s for sure

@StokeyyG2: DO NOT GET ME EXCITED OMG