Dyche defends Clarets' transfer dealings

Brentford boss Dean Smith revealed on Thursday that the Clarets had lodged an offer for former Blackburn Rovers man, and the club also announced before the game that centre back James Tarkowski, the subject of an earlier bid from Burnley, had refused to play against the Clarets amid the speculation.

A statement released before the game saying: "James Tarkowski will be the subject of internal disciplinary action after telling Head Coach Dean Smith that he did not wish to play against Burnley in tonight’s Sky Bet Championship match.

"Following discussions with Smith, Tarkowski declared himself unavailable for the fixture despite being selected in the starting line-up. As a result of these actions, he will be disciplined by the club.

"Any resulting sanction will remain confidential and the Club will make no further comment on potential punishment.

"Tarkowski has been the subject of transfer bids during the current January Transfer Window but none have matched the Club's valuation of the player. In fact, all recent bids have been substantially lower than one that was rejected last year."

Dyche keeps his cards close to his chest in his transfer dealings, and noted: "Everyone else is doing the talking, I haven't said a word! I believe in the way we go about all our business, whatever business we do, whatever club it's with.

"At the end of the day, it's a market we try and use in a sensible and respectful manner.

"If someone chooses to put something in the media, that's up to them. I don't.

"There's been a conversation between our owner and their owner."

Asked about Tarkowski downing tools, and what his reaction would be, Dyche admitted: "I've never had that happen to me, it's part of the job of management, managing every situation, and it's not always good news.

"Its part of the world of contracts, players staying, moving - we had three go from our club in the summer.

"Deals get done.

"I think the era is different, I had an agent once in my career, whereas every kid from 14/15/16 has one now - that can change things.

"You have to reflect on the last but look to the future, and football has changed, whether it's good, bad or indifferent.

"We have to be flexible with it, whether it's good news or bad, as a club, a manager, you just have to manage it as well as you can.

"The crowd didn't seem happy with it, maybe that affects the feel, but I can only concentrate on our team, it's not my world, Brentford's world, it's up to them."

And on Judge, he was again non-committal, reiterating his stance that the club won't spend the £8m the Irishman is reportedly valued at: "It's Burnley Football Club, £8m! My point is, that's how far-fetched these stories can be.

"He's a decent player, they've got some very good players."

Back on on-field matters, Dyche felt the first half performance in the 3-1 win at Griffin Park, as Burnley stormed into a 3-0 lead with sublime goals from Scott Arfield, Joey Barton and George Boyd, was as good as any in his reign: "A lot of the Burnley fans seem to remember the Forest game, the first half when we were 3-0 up, but I thought if I imagine how, or want my team to play, being effective in different ways, that was arguably it.

"To be fair to them, all credit to them second half. They gave a reaction, they've got to, they're at home, they're 3-0 down, and I thought we sort of coped with it quite well, without remotely playing anywhere near as well.

"Tom's not had too much to do in the end. But we had to see the game off in the right manner.

"The tempo, the quality, the mixed play, the effective play, I was pleased with everything in the first half.

"I wasn't madly disappointed with the second half because we all know the Championship, you e got to see the whole 95 minutes out, and it's hard to dominate for that length of time at this level, so I was pleased overall, and we've had a long week.

"People forget that, we've travelled everywhere. They are human beings, even with the physicality of our team, which we think is very good, and the way the medical and sports science staff look after them, it's still a long week.

"Three big, tough away games. So I was pleased with that as well."

And on the goals, he added: "They were the hardest strikes if you look at our other chances, they were more straightforward chances. We scored the three toughest moments, but that's football.

"I was just pleased with how effective we are to create chances, and the high quality they were."