CHAIRMAN'S PROGRAMME NOTES: SOUTHAMPTON

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The latest from the Boardroom ahead of Southampton match

2022-04-21T13:17:42.902Z

CHAIRMAN'S PROGRAMME NOTES: SOUTHAMPTON

The latest from the Boardroom ahead of Southampton match

2022-04-21T13:17:42.902Z

The latest from the Boardroom ahead of Southampton match

Welcome to Turf Moor for this evening’s game against Southampton. It’s my pleasure to extend a warm welcome to Ralph Hasenhüttl, the players, staff, directors, and supporters joining us tonight.

Last Friday we announced the news that we had parted company with manager Sean Dyche, assistant manager Ian Woan, first-team coach Steve Stone and goalkeeping coach Billy Mercer.

I wanted to take this column to firstly explain just how difficult a decision this was, but as one that fell on me to make I wanted to expand on it directly to you. Firstly, Sean and his coaching staff are all fantastic men and true professionals, respected by myself and throughout the Club and community and I honestly wish them all the very best for the future. The Club enjoyed great moments under Sean’s tenure and those achievements will always be fondly remembered by everyone associated with Burnley FC. What Sean has done for the Club over the past decade means that he will rightly be regarded as a true Clarets legend and should be held in the highest esteem.

However, there can be no denying that it has been a difficult season on the pitch and results and performances have been disappointing. Therefore, while the decision to part ways was not one that was taken lightly at all; with four league wins this season, we felt that a change was necessary to offer us the best chance to try and secure our Premier League survival.

It is undeniable the affection that Sean and his team are held in by supporters and I recognise and understand this. However, it is now our job to identify a new manager and coaching team that can come in to build on his legacy and take the Club forward into a new era.

We are in the process of recruiting and will provide supporters with any updates as soon as we have them.

Under-23s manager Mike Jackson, Academy Director Paul Jenkins, Under-23s goalkeeping coach Connor King and Club Captain Ben Mee will once again take charge of team affairs this evening.

Reflecting on our recent results, I want to say a special thank you to the travelling fans that made the long journeys to our last two games away from home at Norwich City and West Ham. With the Easter weekend coinciding with significant travel disruption, your backing to the team was even more appreciated than usual.

I want to congratulate the players for the way they reacted to the result at Norwich and I hope that we can take the positives from last weekend’s draw into what will be another difficult opponent tonight.

I also want to extend my best wishes to Ashley Westwood following his ankle injury and thank both our own and West Ham’s medical teams that responded so quickly to the incident. On behalf of everybody at the Club we wish him a successful and speedy recovery.

As we head into two crucial back-to-back home games, your support really will be paramount. Last time out at home, for the thrilling 3-2 win against Everton, the atmosphere in the ground was electric. I know you’ll get behind the players again this evening as we look for a similar result. Enjoy the game!

Up the Clarets!

Alan

@AlanPaceBFC