Sean Dyche admitted it was never really in doubt he would stay at Burnley after he extended his contract for a further four years. The 50-year-old is the longest-serving boss in the Premier League, having been at Turf Moor for nearly nine years, and he has now committed his future to the Clarets until the summer of 2025. Dyche’s success with Burnley – who are playing in the top-flight for a sixth consecutive season – has seen him linked with moves to a number of other clubs. New owners ALK Capital made securing Dyche’s services for the long term one of their main stated priorities and that has now been achieved, with assistant Ian Woan also signing for the same period.
Sean Dyche said: “The new ownership made it clear when they first came in that they wanted me to be part of it. It was a very challenging season last season and I explained that I felt the team was first, and to clear the situation up I felt it was best we secured our Premier League status, which we did. And then really talks have been ongoing, very open, mainly with Alan (Pace) about the situation, and then tidying up at the end through lawyers, like you generally have to do with these contracts. It was never particularly in doubt to be honest. It was very probable from the offset.”
The new owners backed Dyche with the funds to bring in Maxwel Cornet from Lyon along with Nathan Collins from Stoke and Connor Roberts from Swansea in the summer transfer window.
Sean Dyche said: “We’re trying to reshape the squad over the next few windows,” he added. “It’s something I tried to put in process in the middle of the last board, it wasn’t easy, so we’re kind of playing catch-up a little bit. We’ve certainly made what I think is a good start. Altering the age band that the group’s working in while also believing in the group, because I think we’ve got a strong group.”
The Clarets take on Arsenal – who picked up their first points of the campaign with a 1-0 victory over Norwich last weekend – on Saturday. Burnley fans will have to wait to see whether Cornet will be involved for the first time after being an unused substitute at Goodison Park.
Sean Dyche added: “The Premier League is different, physically. We’ve had our testing protocols, which we do with every player, and he fared reasonably well but there’s still a little bit more to go in getting used to the group. He’s certainly available but pitching him in at the right time is important. We’re here to make these players, not break them.”
