Brian Laws ‘saddened and disappointed’ at leaving Burnley FC

In the aftermath of parting company with the club, Laws told the Express: “I’m just going to take some time out now. It’s a sad time but unfortunately these kind of things happen in football. It’s part and parcel of the game.”

He added: “Naturally I am very saddened to receive the news and disappointed that I will no longer have the opportunity to achieve my ambition of reaching the Championship play offs this season and, ultimately, promotion back to the Barclays Premier League.

“I would like to take this opportunity to wish the club, the management, the players and the supporters all the very best for the future. I am taking advice from the LMA who will be working to reach an amicable agreement with the football club on my behalf. Accordingly, I will not make any further comment at this stage.”

Laws had been given minimal time to adapt to life at Turf Moor following the departure of Owen Coyle to Bolton Wanderers. The Scot raided the nucleus of Burnley’s managerial team including Steve Davis, Sandy Stewart, goalkeeping coach Phil Hughes, chief scout Cliff Roberts, development coach John Henry and head physio Andy Mitchell.

That left Laws with the task of finding a new management team, assessing his squad and bringing in players in January’s transfer window all before his first game in charge against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Mr Peter Pike, chairman of the Clarets Trust, said: “It is unfortunate, in many ways, that we have to end the year with yet another managerial change at the club. It has always been my view that fans should support fully whoever is in post and his squad.”