Sean Dyche breaks silence on Burnley sacking in first interview since dismissal

Sean Dyche has broken his silence on being sacked by Burnley, saying that he was surprised by the timing of the decision but admitting that he had not won enough games.

The 50-year-old was shown the door at Turf Moor on April 15 after nine and a half years in charge and Burnley have gone on to take 10 points from their past five games under caretaker Mike Jackson with dark clouds looming overhead amid concerns around their financial status.

The Lancashire side are now above the drop zone on goal difference but with a game in hand on Leeds United, who were outclassed by Chelsea on Wednesday night, and Dyche said it would be a "big achievement" if the Clarets remain in the top tier.

"We didn't win enough games," he told the Second Captains podcast. "There are always extenuating circumstances to most people's story in football, mine included, but I didn't win enough games. My job as manager, regardless of how that team looks, is to get the team to win enough that is deemed successful enough.

"In Burnley's case, let's face it, that's historically been to stay in the Premier League. That's a big achievement and still will be if they can do it in these remaining games and probably will be for a long time.

"Yes, there's a lot going on - change of ownership, contract situations, injuries, Covid - all of that - but whatever the challenge is I've always thought let's crack on. We've done it with our backs against the wall before. I didn't make excuses then and I'm not going to now. I wouldn't hide behind the simple fact that we didn't win enough games."

Asked if he had seen the decision, made by American chairman Alan Pace, coming down the tracks, Dyche said that only the timing left him surprised. The decision was made