Football Season Guide

Burnley’s reputation as a yo-yo club was reaffirmed as they were relegated from the Premier League after just season. Promoted in 2023 under Vincent Kompany but relegated the following season, head coach Scott Parker repeated the feat of promotion in 2025 only to see the Clarets fall through the trap door again, finishing second bottom in the Pr emier League. Parker’s departure, by mutual consent, came as no surprise, although the timing did, just three weeks before the end of the season. The club hierarchy took their time in deciding upon his replacement, with Nicky Hayden, formerly of Club Brugge, announced almost two-and-a-half months later. The Clarets find themselves in the usual position of clubs relegated from the Premier League. They have several players on significant salaries who consider themselves too good for the Championship, yet with parachute payments that allow them to invest far-greater sums in their squad than most of their division rivals. Goalkeeper Martin Dúbravka has left for Tottenham Hotspur, centre-back Maxime Estève has joined RB Leipzig, midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu will spend the new season on loan with Galatasaray whilst striker Jaidon Anthony has signed for Brentford for a significant fee. It highlights the task facing Hayen, who will have to get up to speed quickly on the challenges faced by the Championship. Whilst the departures are significant, and more will certainly follow, there are some important players who will form the spine of the new team. Max Weiss is clearly Dúbravka’s successor, whilst the experience of multiple Premier League winner Kyle Walker will be invaluable. Keeping hold of last season’s leading goalscorer Zain Flemming is also another positive. New additions are needed with Hayen likely to lean into the market in Europe he knows best. Burnley head into the new campaign as a bit of an unknown quantity and it could go either way, either another push for the Premier League, or falling into a mire of mid-table mediocrity.