galvanise the fans. They realised that my best
player had been sold. We drew with Bolton
on the opening day, there was a positive buzz
around the stadium and after that we never
looked back. They’ve been unbelievable, 100
per cent behind the team. I can’t fault them.”
Dyche is currently the longest serving boss
in the top flight and even has a pub named
after him close to Turf Moor, The Royal Dyche.
“It’s so surreal driving past it – I almost can’t
look at it,” he smiles. “I met the landlady at
a Player of the Year bash. She was lovely and
invited me to the pub some time.
“I asked her originally not to name it after
me, but they insisted. I told her that I could
be out of a job in three months, then she’d
have to take it down. I just get on with what
I do. I don’t like loads of glory. I hear all about
‘little Burnley’, and I get all that, but there are
so many good people here. It’s a much better
situation than many people think.”
Although relegation is realistic this season,
there’s no stopping this Lancashire town’s
affection for its manager. Dyche is speaking
at Burnley’s picturesque, futuristic training
ground and it’s clear the feeling is mutual.
“I’ve been offered certain situations down
the years,” he admits. “I didn’t feel it was the
right time or the right situation to move from
here. There was still life and still growth in it.
I still think there is now. It’s challenging, of
course. I’m not worried about that. I take it
on gladly. It’s difficult, but that’s the way it
is. Would I like to have a go at somewhere
deemed bigger in the future, whenever that
day comes? Of course, because that’s your
own belief about what you could achieve.
“But you have to be accepted before you
take a job. Football management has moved
on. Arsenal appoint Arsene Wenger out of
nowhere and place him in charge. The fans
go, ‘Oh, this will be interesting’. Now, they
would know who he is, have an opinion and
think they know everything. Before you set
foot inside the club, it can be, ‘We don’t want
him’. That’s tough before you get there. Fans
have to be at least 50/50 over your arrival, to
at least give you a chance to operate. Today,
people are looking to get a boss out before
he has even got in. More than ever, it has to
be the right move.”
Given Dyche’s status at Burnley, it’s never
seemed worth the risk. “At most clubs you
can’t build, you can only manage the team,”
he says. “Here, I have my hands on so many
things. I’ve come away from a lot of it over
the years, due to the workload. In the early
days, I was involved with the board over this
training ground. Initially they said there was
no way they could get planning to expand
because of environmental issues around the
site. I told them that was rubbish, to speak
to the local planners and you’ll get a chance.
Wout Weghorst came in January and said
the training ground was brilliant.
“Here it’s simple. It’s not about developing
players, it’s about winning football matches
and keeping the club in the Premier League.
I have a thirst for the future, but I’m not
driving towards running away from here.”
Unless Kasabian are interested. Then his
opinion could change rather quickly.
SEAn
DYCHE