Burnley boss Sean Dyche keeping tabs on League Two play-off situation as Michael Duff pushes for promotion

Manager Sean Dyche (L) of Burnley congratulates player Michael Duff at full time of the Sky Bet Championship match between Blackpool and Burnley at Bloomfield Road on April 18, 2014 in Blackpool, England. (Photo by Paul Thomas/Getty Images)

That's because Michael Duff's Cheltenham Town will be one of four teams to contend the end-of-season knockout if it's given the go-ahead.

The Robins were right in the mix for automatic promotion when the pandemic struck, having been just four points shy of Plymouth Argyle with a game in hand.

However, the Whaddon Road outfit were denied a top three finish when clubs in England's fourth tier opted to curtail the 2019/20 campaign in light of the disruption caused by the coronavirus outbreak.

Should the play-offs be given the green light the Robins will take on Northampton Town in a two-legged semi-final.

Duff could then face former team-mate John McGreal in the final at Wembley Stadium as Colchester United prepare to take on Exeter City in the other fixture.

"I keep tabs on him [Duffo] and Joey [Barton] because they're ex players who have done brilliantly for me and for Burnley and now they're doing it in management," said Dyche.

"It's good for him. I've spoken to him a few times during this break and he's waiting to hear about different scenarios so we'll see how they go."

Duff won promotion to the Premier League on three occasions during his time at Turf Moor, the first off those via the play-offs at the national stadium in 2009.

The former Northern Ireland international went on to make just short of 400 appearances for the Clarets after joining for £30,000 from Cheltenham in the summer of 2004.

He would later take charge of the club's under 18s and under 23s before enjoying a spell with the senior set-up when temporarily standing in for first team coach Tony Loughlin.

"Everyone has got different abilities and different ways of doing things, but he was rounded enough and he certainly had a deep enough career and enough experiences," added Dyche.

"It's then all about how you put that into your coaching style; I thought he did that very well at Burnley and now he's doing a good job at Cheltenham.

"Management is different now, there are so many different styles and types that it's no longer obvious who is the managerial type. He's got his own style and he'll be working on that, as we all do."