Connor Roberts has expressed his disappointment that Craig Bellamy did not become Burnley's manager this summer. The defender's comments come as the club sits bottom of the Championship with just four points from eight games, a position that sees them 12 points adrift of the playoff places and 10 points from safety in the standings.
Burnley had targeted Bellamy to succeed Scott Parker at the end of June, with an agreement and compensation package settled with the Welsh FA. The move ultimately fell through, with Bellamy deciding to stay in his role as Wales manager, citing family reasons and feeling it was the right place for him. Burnley subsequently appointed Nicky Hayen, the former assistant to Vincent Kompany at Genk, who is now in charge at Turf Moor.
Roberts, speaking ahead of Wales' Nations League games, made his feelings clear. "I’ve obviously known Bellers for a while now, he was at Burnley as a coach and now he’s the manager of Wales," he said. The 30-year-old added, "Am I a little bit disappointed he’s not Burnley manager? I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t."
The Clarets are in a difficult position, rooted to the foot of the table with four points from their opening eight matches. Their recent form reads DLDLD, with their last result a 1-1 home draw against Derby County. They have scored nine goals but conceded 17, leaving them with a goal difference of minus eight. The team's struggles are reflected in the wider stats for the season, which show a team struggling for consistency. The immediate focus is on their next Championship fixture, an away trip to Watford on October 10, a key match in their fixtures list as they seek to climb away from danger.
Roberts' remarks highlight a sense of a missed opportunity for a familiar figure to lead the club during a turbulent period. The search for stability continues under Hayen as Burnley prepares for a key run of games, with the squad looking to improve on their current points tally and goal difference.
Background and full detail: Burnley Express
