For the second time in four years, Mike Jackson will be the man tasked with navigating Burnley through a caretaker spell.

Scott Parker issues classy message to Burnley fans following his departure

The club’s first-team coach has been placed in interim charge following Thursday’s parting of the ways with Scott Parker.

The 52-year-old, who has been a part of Parker’s backroom staff this season, will oversee Burnley’s final four games of the campaign, starting with tonight’s trip to Leeds United.

But what do we know about Jackson? And what can we expect from one of his teams? We take a closer look:

Caretaker

The Runcorn-born defender enjoyed an 18-year career as a player, starting out at Crewe Alexandra before representing a number of clubs, mainly in the north west.

The majority of his playing time came at Preston North End between 1997 and 2004, but he also turned out for Bury, Tranmere Rovers, Blackpool and Shrewsbury Town.

First team coach Michael Jackson speaks to the media following the 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion last season. Photo: Kelvin Lister-Stuttard

Upon retirement, Jackson was installed as Shrewsbury’s caretaker boss for the final game of the 2009/10 season following the dismissal of Paul Simpson.

He returned to a coaching role under Graham Turner and was again put back in caretaker charge following Turner’s resignation in January 2014.

But on this occasion, Jackson was given the job on a more permanent basis until the end of the season, but was unable to save them from relegation to League Two.

Jackson stayed on the following season as number two to former Claret Micky Mellon, before following him to Tranmere Rovers.

When Mellon left to join Dundee United in 2020, Jackson was put in permanent charge but lasted just three months.

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The following year, Jackson made the move to Burnley to take control of the club’s Under-23 side.

In April 2022, following Sean Dyche’s sacking, he took charge of the Premier League game against West Ham, which the Clarets drew 1-1.

After a 2-1 away win at Watford, Jackson became the first Burnley manager to win three of their first four league games in charge since Jimmy Mullen in 1991.

He even won the Premier League Manager of the Month award for April after leading the relegation-threatened Clarets to three wins and a draw.

However, he was still unable to stave off relegation, with his side losing three of their last four games.

Jackson changed little in terms of style of play or approach from Dyche, but a fresh face and a fresh voice helped bring about a brief upturn in form.

Since then, Jackson has remained at Turf Moor, working under both Vincent Kompany and Parker.

He will be joined by Parker’s long-time assistant Jonathan Hill, who has stayed on, and fellow first-team coach Henrik Jensen.

It will be interesting to see if Jackson changes much from Parker’s approach, be that a change in formation and style or a significant changing of personnel, but we will find out tonight at Elland Road.

Jackson often gave very little away back in 2022 when asked if he wants the job on a full-time basis.

“I've not even thought about that,” he told reporters ahead of Burnley’s final day showdown against Newcastle United. “All my thoughts have been on how we can achieve what we want to do.”

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