Sami Mokbel
BBC Sport Senior football correspondent

Burnley hold an interest in Wales manager Craig Bellamy as they begin the process of replacing Scott Parker, but face an uphill battle to convince him to return to Turf Moor.

Parker left the club with immediate effect following Burnley's relegation from the Premier League, with the Clarets now turning their attention to appointing his successor.

Multiple sources have told BBC Sport that Burnley view Bellamy as a serious candidate for the position.

Bellamy previously coached at Burnley under former boss Vincent Kompany and was among the candidates for the top job prior to Parker’s appointment in 2024.

However, Bellamy is enjoying his time with Wales and is said to be relishing the opportunity to lead the nation at a home European Championship in 2028.

He is also understood to have some reservations about the current make-up of the Burnley squad and how much work may be required this summer, with a number of players expected to depart.

Elsewhere, Steven Gerrard has been heavily linked with the position, but there has been no formal contact from Burnley so far.

Sources have also indicated that the Clarets have made checks on Cardiff head coach Brian Barry-Murphy.

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales

Craig Bellamy has been mentioned as a potential successor to Scott Parker, having worked as an assistant to Vincent Kompany during his time at Burnley.

The Football Association of Wales hasn't received any formal bids yet but expects interest in the 46-year-old. He still has two years left on the four-year deal he signed in July 2024, and any club would need to meet a release clause of at least £700,000.

Bellamy took a significant pay cut to leave Burnley, and because that move was handled amicably, there's a strong working relationship between the FAW and the club.

In terms of performance, he's made a solid start in his first senior role - guiding Wales to promotion in the UEFA Nations League - although they missed out on the World Cup after a play-off defeat by Bosnia and Herzegovina in March.

He's been clear about wanting to lead Wales at UEFA Euro 2028, which will be co-hosted by the United Kingdom and Ireland. But he's also openly said he sees his long-term future in club management - it's more a question of timing than intent.

If your concern is having a "proven manager with a Plan B," Bellamy is interesting but not quite that profile yet. He's promising and tactically flexible in theory, but still very early in his managerial career.

He'd be more of a calculated gamble than a safe, proven appointment.

Image source, Getty Images

Burnley

Image source, Opta

Burnley's position as yo-yo kings was confirmed with Premier League relegation, following a 1-0 defeat byManchester City, meaning next season will be their fifth year in a row of flitting between the top two divisions.

Only Fulham, between 2017-18 and 2021-22, have 'achieved' that before - with current Clarets boss Scott Parker also involved there.

It has led observers to wonder how Burnley can break this cycle... or if they even want to.

They will want it to go on for a sixth year at least - to take them back up.

Former Burnley winger Glen Little said it wouldn't surprise him if the Clarets "come straight back up" but added it's a shame that this season they are "the odd ones out" in terms of newly-promoted sides remaining in the Premier League.

Little told BBC Sport: "I suppose we could say we have been fortunate that every time we've been relegated, we have come straight back up and so it keeps the parachute payments."

"And then you get the Premier League money again after promotion."

Four times now, the Clarets have been relegated from the Premier League a year after coming up, equalling Norwich's record.

In total they have been promoted to the Premier League five times, and now relegated from it five times. Since 1992, they have been through eight English league promotions and six relegations. Only Rotherham, with eight of each, can beat that.

Bayern Munich boss Vincent Kompany is one game away from a Champions League final.

He was also unable to keep Burnley in the Premier League.

A tough old gig.

Wales boss Craig Bellamy worked under Vincent Kompany at Burnley.

With Wales missing out on the World Cup, you'd expect Bellamy would want to put that right first.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Burnley boss Scott Parker, speaking to BBC Match of the Day after his team's relegation: "The club has had to [bounce back] over the last few years. There is a lot of learning to do and that is exactly what we'll do. We'll reflect on where we've fallen short. We need to work out where we've gone wrong and come back stronger next year."

If the club want to keep you, will you stay?: "It's been a relentless season for everyone, me included. We [he and the board] will sit down and reflect, work out where we move forward and go from there."

Image source, Getty Images

Scott Parker has taken three different clubs into the Premier League, but has not yet managed to keep a side in the top flight.

Fulham and Burnley were both relegated under the former England midfielder after enjoying promotion from the Championship.

And Parker led Bournemouth up, only to be sacked just four games into the 2022-23 Premier League season, following a 9-0 defeat by Liverpool.

The difference in his win percentage as a manager in England's top two divisions is stark - 55.3% in the Championship, compared with just 15.1% in the Premier League.

Parker's latest stab at managing in the top flight promised more, but after taking 10 points from their first nine matches, Burnley's fight fizzled out, with just one win since October.

The question is, will the 45-year-old be given another opportunity to find a winning formula in the Premier League?

Parker's Championship record:

• 141 matches (including play-offs) - 78 wins, 41 draws, 22 losses
• Win percentage - 55.3%

Parker's Premier League record:

• 86 matches - 13 wins, 21 draws, 52 losses
• Win percentage - 15.1%

Stats provided by Transfermarkt, external

Image source, Getty Images

Mike Jackson has been announced as Burnley's interim boss, with his first game in charge coming against Leeds on Friday in the Premier League.

Jackson, 52, is already familiar with the role, having been promoted from the U23s to the Clarets' interim first-team manager. He previously took charge in a 2-0 win over Southampton after Sean Dyche was sacked in 2022.

He also oversaw Burnley's comeback victory against Watford, winning 2-1 in the same season, and managed a total of eight games from 15 April until the end of the campaign.

The following season, Jackson was named as part of Vincent Kompany's backroom staff as an assistant manager, serving for 96 games. He remained in this role under Scott Parker for a further 88 games.

Image source, Getty Images

So where did it all go wrong for Burnley this season under Scott Parker?

The Clarets' previous tilt at the top flight, under Vincent Kompany, was undermined by their poor home form.

They lost their first seven home matches in the 2023-24 Premier League campaign and did not register a first win at Turf Moor until 2 December.

The story started differently for Burnley under Parker this season.

They beat fellow promoted side Sunderland 2-0 in their first home match.

And while a succession of defeats followed home and away to the Premier League's bigger sides - Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City and Aston Villa - they were able to pick up valuable points along the way.

A draw at home to struggling Nottingham Forest and back-to-back wins against newly promoted Leeds and basement club Wolves in October moved the Clarets up to 16th place - five points above the relegation zone.

But they were unable to maintain that early form.

A run of seven consecutive defeats dented confidence, and while Parker's side scrapped to notable draws against Bournemouth, Everton, Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea, they would only win one more game - at Crystal Palace in February.

By that time, momentum was against them, and a second Premier League relegation in three seasons already looked inevitable.

You can have your say on the next Burnley manager at the top of this page.

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Scott Parker inherited a Burnley side relegated from the Premier League under previous manager Vincent Kompany.

Kompany, who was appointed Bayern Munich boss after leaving Turf Moor, was unable to translate his side's freewheeling Championship form into top-flight success.

The Belgian's attacking approach proved too naive against more powerful Premier League outfits.

After storming to the 2022-23 Championship title with 101 points, Burnley managed just 24 points from 38 games in the 2023-24 Premier League season, with a goal difference of -37.

Parker has adopted a more pragmatic approach, yet the results have been largely the same.

After leading his Burnley side to 100 points in the Championship last season, only pipped to the title by Leeds on goal difference, they have managed just 20 points from 34 games in the Premier League, at a goal difference of -34.

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Speaking to the Burnley website, Scott Parker said: "It has been an immense privilege to lead this great club over the past two years. I have enjoyed every moment of our journey together, but feel that now is the right time for both parties to move in a different direction.

"I reflect back with great pride on what we achieved during my time at the club, especially our unforgettable promotion season in 2024-25, and it was a true honour to lead this team into the Premier League.

"I would like to thank Alan and the ownership group for their support during my time at the club. My thanks also go to the fantastic and tireless staff behind the scenes and, most importantly, to the players, who have given me everything since the first day I arrived.

"Finally, thank you to the Burnley fans. I wish you all and this great club nothing but the very best for the future."

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