Ex-Wolves and West Brom bosses emerge as frontrunners for Burnley job ahead of Portsmouth contest

Burnley are beginning the hunt for Nicky Hayen’s successor at Turf Moor after his sacking over the weekend.

The Clarets have had a dismal start to the new campaign following their Premier League relegation and currently occupy a place in the relegation zone ahead of facing John Mousinho’s in-form troops on Saturday.

A 4-1 defeat to Lincoln City on the weekend brought the curtain down on the Belgian’s brief stay in Lancashire, which saw him pick up just one win after his appointment in July.

The loss at Sincil Bank was Burnley’s sixth in the Championship, which leaves the Turf Moor outfit 22nd in the table with just eight points from their 12 matches played.

The search for Hayen’s replacement is underway and two names are already emerged as the frontrunners.

Duo reportedly on Burnley shortlist ahead of Pompey

Following the 46-year-old’s dismissal, transfer guru Alan Nixon claimed the Clarets would likely avoid paying compensation for a manager.

The report then stated former Wolves and Luton Town boss Rob Edwards was being earmarked as a potential candidate and is the current favourite amongst the bookmakers.

The 43-year-old has been without a job since June when he was brutally sacked by Wolves following their Premier League relegation.

He was believed to be eyed as a potential option for Southampton as a replacement for Tonda Eckert if he was significantly punished by the FA for his involvement.

Meanwhile, talkSPORT’s Ben Jacobs has revealed Carlos Corberan is also in contention to take the Turf Moor hot seat.

The Spaniard was sacked by La Liga outfit Valencia in September after a disappointing start to the campaign and left Los Che winless in the opening weeks to the season.

The 43-year-old spent two-and-a-half years at the Mastella guiding the club to 12th and ninth-placed finishes after he departed West Brom in December 2024.

Corberan has a wealth of Championship experience under his belt, guiding Huddersfield Town to the play-off final in 2022.

It remains to be seen whether Burnley will have their new boss in place for Saturday’s game against Pompey.

The Clarets did not name an interim head coach following Hayen’s dismissal, with no news as to who could be in the dugout to face Mousinho’s in-form side.

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In-form Pompey face managerless Burnley this Saturday

The Blues travel to Lancashire this weekend, with Burnley sitting 22nd in the standings, while the Fratton Park outfit occupy 11th - two points away from the play-offs.

The curtain came down on Hayen’s brief reign on Saturday as they fell to a 4-1 defeat to newly-promoted Lincoln City.

The Belgian completed his media duties before learning of his exit and admitted in his post-match press conference that his future was out of his hands.

He said: ‘I don't know. I know it's a really hard defeat and something to think about for the board also.

‘In the past maybe I lost my energy but I'm not going to lose my energy because this is something out of my hands.’

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