Chief backs Burnley FC caretaker team

FIRST team coach Stuart Gray has been appointed caretaker-manager for the Clarets next three games as the Burnley Football Club board of directors start their search for Brian Laws’ successor.

Gray will take over for tomorrow’s Npower Championship clash against Sheffield United at Turf Moor which will be followed two days later with a trip to the Madejski Stadium to face Reading. He will also be in charge for the Clarets FA Cup third round tie against Port Vale. The club has also appointed long-serving youth team coach Terry Pashley and club captain Graham Alexander as his assistants for that three-game period.

Meanwhile, assistant manager Russ Wilcox has left the club with immediate effect though goalkeeping coach Billy Mercer and Tom Whittle will be remaining at Turf Moor.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Burnley’s operational director Brendan Flood said: “We’ve appointed Stuart Gray to act as caretaker-manager for the next three games which will see us play Sheffield United, Reading and Port Vale in the FA Cup. We know he’s got experience of management before and he’s got the support of Graham Alexander and Terry Pashley on the coaching side.

“Together they’ve got a real opportunity to kickstart the season and get us looking towards our promotion ambitions. We hope the true fans come along on Saturday to show their support and get behind the team. We need to make life uncomfortable for Sheffield United.”

Flood added: “Stuart is liked by the squad and he’s very much an experienced man who communicates well so we didn’t have any hesitation in considering him for this position. We will be giving him as much support as we can so we can focus everybody on winning games. We need to settle the playing squad so they can concentrate on the football again.

“Graham Alexander is a natural leader who understands the philosophy of the club and the culture of the town. He’s a great link between manager and players and we feel that he has a big part at Burnley Football Club. Together we think he can re-energise us in the short-term.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Flood had grown ‘concerned’ with matters on and off the pitch after witnessing the reaction of supporters to the lacklustre performance in the Clarets 2-0 defeat at home to struggling Scunthorpe United. Laws’ record illustrated a 27.5% win rate since replacing Owen Coyle at the helm in January while the Clarets had lost half of their league fixtures during his tenure with 20 defeats from 40 games.

Now he hopes the pressure will subside: “The pressure on the manager had distracted many people at the club,” he said. “But that pressure has gone now. We’ve got nothing to lose so now it’s up to us to show people what we are capable of.

“Brian Laws and Russ Wilcox have both made a positive contribution to the club despite facing huge challenges, and we’d like to thank them for that and wish them all the best for the future.”

He added: “There’s lots of interest in the managerial role as always. As a club, football people see us as a good proposition. We’ve got the Premier League parachute payments, we are a stable club and we have a board full of Burnley FC fans.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Hopefully we can consider some very good candidates but we won’t be rushed in to making a decision. We want to evaluate all our options and make a decision that will benefit the future of the football club.”