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Burnley’s hunt for a new manager has dragged on for what feels like an age following Scott Parker’s departure by mutual consent after the club’s relegation from the Premier League.
Plenty of names have been mentioned as Turf Moor chiefs weigh up the right appointment, with Steven Gerrard among the early figures heavily linked, but that noise has yet to turn into anything concrete as the Championship season edges ever closer.
With pre-season now looming large, Burnley are under growing pressure to settle on a manager who can steady the club quickly and mount a serious promotion challenge at the first attempt.
Former Liverpool forward Craig Bellamy had emerged as a leading contender this week, with the BBC reporting that the Lancashire club had already made contact with Bellamy.
The Welsh manager had a short spell as a Liverpool player, arriving in 2006 and contributing 11 goals in 42 appearances across all competitions during his lone season at the club.
But according to Sky Sports reporter Vinny O’Connor, Bellamy’s proposed move to Burnley has now fallen through, with the Clarets instead understood to have turned their attention toward other managerial targets.
Vinny O’Connor has reported:
“Craig Bellamy’s proposed move to Burnley has fallen through.”
“It is understood that the Championship club have turned their attention to other managerial targets, including Steve Cooper and Rob Edwards.”
It is also said that the Football Association of Wales had remained hopeful Bellamy would stay on in his current role, and that there is a strong working relationship between both parties:
“The Football Association of Wales [FAW] had remained hopeful Bellamy would stay on as Wales boss. The FAW and Bellamy have enjoyed an excellent working relationship, with Bellamy happy in his role as men’s senior head coach.”
Former Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper and ex-Wolves boss Rob Edwards are said to be among the names Burnley could consider if Bellamy departs.
Cooper has been without a job since leaving Danish club Brondby earlier this year, while Edwards was relieved of his duties by Wolves this past season.