Hayen sacked by Burnley after just 14 games

What the report says

Burnley have sacked head coach Nicky Hayen after just 14 games in charge, BBC Sport Football reports, following a poor start to the Championship season. His last match was Saturday’s 4-1 defeat at Lincoln City, a result that left Burnley 22nd in the table and marked their sixth league loss of the campaign.

Hayen, who was appointed on 10 July to replace Scott Parker, became the second Championship manager dismissed this season. Burnley moved quickly after the Lincoln defeat, announcing his departure in a short statement within two hours. In his post-match comments, Hayen had suggested the decision was beyond his control.

The club had brought in the Belgian after he won the Belgian title with Club Brugge in 2024, with owner Alan Pace hoping he could guide Burnley back up after relegation from the Premier League. But the team’s league form has dipped sharply, despite an encouraging opening draw with West Ham and a later 4-0 win over Watford. BBC Sport said Burnley have won only one of their past 24 league matches and have conceded 25 goals in their opening 12 Championship games, the worst defensive record in the division. The dismissal underlines the pressure on clubs trying to respond quickly to poor results, especially in a demanding second-tier promotion race.