Burnley eye Spurs legend as Hayen’s future hangs after Preston North End decline

Burnley’s winless start to the 2026 Championship season sits opposite a potential lifeline: a former Tottenham Hotspur icon who turned down Preston North End. The Belgian boss Nicky Hayen has yet to secure a league victory, and the club’s hierarchy may look beyond the Lancashire rivals for a replacement.

Hayen’s precarious position at Turf Moor

Since the international break, the Clarets have collected just four points from eight games, making them one of only two clubs across the three EFL divisions yet to win a league match. Hayen’s sole win came in the EFL Cup against Notts County via penalties, meaning Burnley have not won a game in regular time this year. Their winless run now stretches to twenty league outings.

The poor start follows a chaotic pre‑season. Hayen arrived only four weeks before the season opener after talks with Craig Bellamy collapsed, leaving Mike Jackson to steer the club through the summer. Players eager for top‑flight football sought exits, forcing Hayen to rebuild amid a delayed preparation.

Spurs legend emerges as a possible successor

Preston North End recently rejected the chance to appoint the former Spurs striker, leaving Burnley with a clear alternative. The ex‑Tottenham forward, who scored four against the Clarets in September 2009, has been out of work since leaving Ferencváros at the end of last season. His managerial résumé includes a 73.21 percent win record over fifty‑six games with Maccabi Tel Aviv and experience on the coaching staff of Middlesbrough, Leeds United and the Republic of Ireland.

Should Hayen fail to turn the tide at Vicarage Road – where a late lead slipped against Derby County before the break – Burnley may act swiftly. The club’s next fixture at Watford, sitting twentieth and four points ahead, is already being billed as a make‑or‑break encounter.

Beyond the on‑field drama, the story is being chronicled by freelance journalist Sam, a graduate of the University of Salford with a First Class Broadcast Journalism degree. Despite his broadcasting background, Sam has a plethora of experience in writing, having produced many articles for the Northern Premier League and various Leeds United blogs. Having supported Leeds all his life, he is no stranger to the EFL – and with media work for Stockport County, Wigan Athletic and Salford City, he is well‑versed across the entire 72.

Sam’s coverage, like a thread woven through the league’s log, highlights how the club’s delayed preparation and player unrest have compounded Hayen’s challenges. Here, the road ahead for Burnley is fraught with decisions that could reshape their season.