No managerial change anticipated ahead of Lincoln trip

Nicky Hayen’s job at Burnley appears safe for now despite growing pressure over his managerial position.

The Belgian has overseen just one win from his first 11 games, which leaves the Clarets rooted inside the Championship’s bottom three.

But despite the disastrous start, it’s understood that - as it stands - Hayen is expected to be in the dugout for next Saturday’s clash against Lincoln City.

Burnley’s head coach was straight back to Gawthorpe over the weekend following Friday night’s 2-1 defeat to Wolves, which extended the club’s winless home league run to over a year.

He’s since taken training today too, while the time and date of Hayen’s pre-Lincoln press conference has also been confirmed ahead of the visit to Sincil Bank.

Despite only being appointed this summer, Hayen already came under big pressure prior to the recent international break after failing to win any of his first eight league games in charge.

After surviving the three weeks off, Hayen oversaw the Clarets’ return to winning ways with a 4-0 thumping of Watford - which was the club’s first victory in 90 minutes since February.

But since then, Burnley failed to win either of their back-to-back home games, drawing 2-2 to Charlton Athletic after being pegged back with virtually the last kick of the game, before squandering the lead to lose to Wolves courtesy of two inexplicable defensive howlers.

Speaking after Friday night’s game, Hayen admitted that question marks over his position are inevitable.

“Of course, if you're in this situation, it's normal that it can happen [he can be sacked],” he said.

“But again, it's not something that I'm thinking about because then I lose also my focus on the players I want to work with, so it's a question for other people.”

Friday night’s defeat, Burnley’s fifth of the season, was met by angry scenes on the terraces, as supporters turned their anger towards Alan Pace and the club’s board.

Fans unfurled a “Pace Out” banner in the Cricket Field Stand, while there were also chants of “Alan Pace, get out of our club”.

“I totally understand their frustration,” Hayen said afterwards. “They love this club, they're emotional. Why? Because, like I said, they only want to win and only the best for the club. But that's also my intention.

“I didn't come here to annoy them or to harm their club. I work really, really hard every single day to change this.

“I think you saw the match plan, you saw the first half. But again, against individual mistakes, even I can't change things if this happens. But okay, I know how it goes.

“They're looking also to me, what I can understand if you have bad results. But again, I'm a manager who falls back, who has already changed situations in the past. I never, ever gave up and until I get the chance, I will do my maximum best to change the situation.”