Wayne Rooney is a top target for Burnley as they search for a new permanent manager this summer.
Rooney fits the profile of the young, ambitious coach chairman Alan Pace wants, plus he is the sort of big name he craves to raise Burnley ’s profile. And now it has emerged that one of Rooney’s old Manchester United pals is key to the Clarets’ move for the Derby boss.
Phil Bardsley is out of contract at Turf Moor this summer and plans to move into coaching. He has already started taking his coaching badges and would be the ideal man to be part of Rooney’s backroom at Burnley.
The pair have remained close since their days together at United and Bardsley could provide Rooney with the insight he would need at Burnley. Rooney has stated he would like to remain at Derby following their relegation to League One, but that is dependent on American Chris Kirchner’s takeover going through.
Kirchner’s period of exclusivity to negotiate the deal ends on May 7 and this is seen as the deadline for Rooney to decide his future. Rooney has already said he will consider his future if the takeover does not go through and his time at Derby has been blighted by off-the-field problems. Rooney was at Turf Moor earlier this, sitting with the Everton fans, to watch Burnley’s win over his old club and the two sides are locked in a battle for Premier League survival.
Pace wants Rooney regardless of what league Burnley are in next season and is impressed by the job he has done with the Rams in such difficult circumstances. Rooney is one of a number of names being considered by Pace and his board and they also like Nottingham Forest’s Steve Cooper. Pace is also looking abroad and has noted Kjetil Knutsen’s achievement in winning back-to-back Norwegian titles with Bodo Glimt.
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Caretaker boss Michael Jackson has bought Pace some breathing space in his search for a new manager with his success since taking over from Sean Dyche a fortnight ago and has taken seven points from his three games. Pace’s initial plan was to appoint someone short term for the rest of the season, but he will leave former Under-23s boss Jackson in position. This allows Pace to focus on his search for a new permanent manager this summer.
Pace is determined to make Burnley more outward looking after they had a very British/Irish identity under Dyche. He has already changed their recruitment policy by signing Ivorian Maxwel Cornet from Lyon and Dutch striker Wout Weghorst from Wolfsburg and feels Burnley would benefit from a more European identity. The players are relishing the change in atmosphere and some felt the club had gone stale under Dyche, despite his successful decade-long reign.
Jackson has revived players like Dwight McNeil, who had badly lost his way towards the end of Dyche’s time, and Jack Cork, who had looked like he was on his way out. There is a real confidence about Burnley, which was lacking before, and the players believe they can get out of trouble.
