Scott Parker: Craig Bellamy 'a serious candidate' as Burnley look for new boss

Recap: Parker leaves Burnley eight days after relegation

That's all from us today as we brought you the breaking news that Scott Parker has left Burnley, eight days after the club were relegated to the Championship.

Here are the top lines:

Burnley's statement confirming the departure of Parker by "mutual consent"

In a statement of his own, the former midfielder said it has been "an immense privilege" to manage the Clarets

Parker's Championship record vs his Premier League record - is he the yo-yo manager?

BBC Sport Wales' Dafydd Pritchard claims Wales are expecting interest in head coach Craig Bellamy, while BBC Sport Senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel states that Bellamy is a "serious candidate"

The best of your reaction to the news

Unless we're dropped with another unexpected bombshell this afternoon, we'll be back tomorrow to bring you a full day of Premier League news conferences.

What better way to spend a sunny Friday?

See you then.

No 'economic shock' for relegated Burnley as they search for new manager

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire does not believe there will be an "economic shock" at Burnley in the close season as they search for a new manager capable of taking them back to the Premier League.

Their last two managers - Vincent Kompany and Scott Parker - were able to use parachute payments following Premier League relegation to manage the summer transfer window and create a squad strong enough to earn instant promotion back from the Championship.

Maguire, a senior teacher in accountancy at the University of Liverpool who also runs the Price of Football podcast, told the Burnley Express, external that the club would retain a financial advantage in the second tier.

“Burnley future-proof themselves by budgeting in terms of recruitment, and also by the wage structure that they have, along with some fairly severe relegation clauses in the contract," said Maguire, who estimates that Burnley's parachute payments from the Premier League will be between £60m-£70m for the next two seasons.

“It’s tricky because we don't even know the extent of their finances for last season when they were promoted, because we’re still waiting for the accounts to be published.

“But there's no economic shock, there's no trauma as far as Burnley's finances are concerned. They'll sell a few players, they'll recruit some more with a view to being that yo-yo club, which they have become.

“I think it'll be a wee bit tougher next season, because there are some decent sides in that division. But they will have that financial advantage, because they've got the parachute payments.”

Liam Rosenior

The former Chelsea manager has recently been sacked by the west London club after spending three months in charge.

In his time in charge of the Blues he managed 11 wins in 23 games across all competitions and had guided them to a FA Cup semi-final clash at Wembley against Leeds, which they won, under interim head coach Calum McFarlane.

He had impressed with his work at French club Strasbourg, taking charge of 63 matches, winning 32, drawing 14 and losing 17. He also led the Ligue 1 side to Europe for the first time in 8 years.

He has also managed at Hull City and Derby County.

Sean Dyche

Sean Dyche is a familiar name for Burnley fans and has been rumoured to be interested in the role.

Dyche spent 3,454 days in charge of Burnley over a 10-year period starting in 2012, during which he recorded 152 wins, 114 draws and 159 losses.

He joined Everton at the end of January 2023 but was relieved of his duties on Merseyside after two years.

He was also dismissed by Nottingham Forest in February, after taking over mid-season, and is currently free to work.

Dyche began his managerial career at Watford in 2011.

Russell Martin

The former Southampton manager has experience of winning the Championship play-off final, which would give the Burnley board and fans confidence that he is the right man for the job.

However, the Saints were relegated in the same season they went up, with Martin not lasting until Christmas.

The way Martin wants to play - a more attacking style - would be more in line with former Burnley manager Vincent Kompany than the departing Scott Parker.

Last year, Russell Martin was sacked by Rangers after 17 games as head coach.

He has currently been without a club for over a year.

Bellamy 'a serious candidate'

Sami Mokbel

BBC Sport Senior football correspondent

Burnley hold an interest in Wales manager Craig Bellamy as they begin the process of replacing Scott Parker, but face an uphill battle to convince him to return to Turf Moor.

Parker left the club with immediate effect following Burnley's relegation from the Premier League, with the Clarets now turning their attention to appointing his successor.

Multiple sources have told BBC Sport that Burnley view Bellamy as a serious candidate for the position.

Bellamy previously coached at Burnley under former boss Vincent Kompany and was among the candidates for the top job prior to Parker’s appointment in 2024.

However, Bellamy is enjoying his time with Wales and is said to be relishing the opportunity to lead the nation at a home European Championship in 2028.

He is also understood to have some reservations about the current make-up of the Burnley squad and how much work may be required this summer, with a number of players expected to depart.

Elsewhere, Steven Gerrard has been heavily linked with the position, but there has been no formal contact from Burnley so far.

Sources have also indicated that the Clarets have made checks on Cardiff head coach Brian Barry-Murphy.

Wales expecting interest in Bellamy - but no bid yet

Dafydd Pritchard

BBC Sport Wales

Craig Bellamy has been mentioned as a potential successor to Scott Parker, having worked as an assistant to Vincent Kompany during his time at Burnley.

The Football Association of Wales hasn't received any formal bids yet but expects interest in the 46-year-old. He still has two years left on the four-year deal he signed in July 2024, and any club would need to meet a release clause of at least £700,000.

Bellamy took a significant pay cut to leave Burnley, and because that move was handled amicably, there's a strong working relationship between the FAW and the club.

In terms of performance, he's made a solid start in his first senior role - guiding Wales to promotion in the UEFA Nations League - although they missed out on the World Cup after a play-off defeat by Bosnia and Herzegovina in March.

He's been clear about wanting to lead Wales at UEFA Euro 2028, which will be co-hosted by the United Kingdom and Ireland. But he's also openly said he sees his long-term future in club management - it's more a question of timing than intent.

If your concern is having a "proven manager with a Plan B," Bellamy is interesting but not quite that profile yet. He's promising and tactically flexible in theory, but still very early in his managerial career.

He'd be more of a calculated gamble than a safe, proven appointment.

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