Lancashire

Prudent Nsengiyumva
BBC Sport journalist

Leeds United host Burnley on Friday (20:00 BST) needing the points to virtually end any relegation concerns. Burnley, already relegated and now managerless after Scott Parker left the club on Thursday, have little but pride at stake.

Can Leeds pull clear of danger?

Leeds know a win would increase pressure on the other relegation candidates ahead of the weekend. The Whites have often been competitive this season, rarely dominating possession but creating enough chances to stay in games. The issue has been turning those moments into comfortable wins, particularly at home.

Nowhere is that clearer than after the half-time interval. Leeds have conceded 15 second half league goals at Elland Road and when matches are level or Leeds hold a narrow lead, Farke's side tend to slow the tempo and protect central areas rather than push for a decisive second goal. Control becomes caution – and pressure follows.

Greater calm in front of goal could make the difference. Forward Noah Okafor has emerged as Leeds' most reliable finisher since early February, scoring five Premier League goals in that period. Only Morgan Gibbs-White and Viktor Gyokeres have scored more in the same spell. If Friday's game remains tight into the latter stages, Leeds will need that efficiency.

Will pride drive managerless Burnley at Elland Road?

Burnley's return to the Premier League has again proved short-lived, with relegation confirmed by last week's defeat by Manchester City. With the club now managerless, there is a possibility they play with a degree of freedom – but their away form offers little reassurance.

The pattern has been familiar. Burnley often start competitively, pressing with energy and keeping their shape. However, as intensity drops, gaps appear and opponents take advantage.

They have conceded 25 first half away goals and remain the league's most porous defence, with 68 goals conceded overall.

If Leeds are looking for encouragement, it may come from that contrast in resilience. This fixture has the feel of a match shaped by patience and timing: one side trying to avoid the late game issues that have haunted their season, the other vulnerable once momentum turns against them. How Leeds manage that balance after the break could decide the outcome.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on who should become the next Burnley manager after the club announced Scott Parker's exit on Thursday.

Here are some of your comments:

Isaac: Has to be Craig Bellamy, knows the club inside out and the fans already like him. No doubt in my mind.

Ted: Craig would be a great choice but also the managers proven taking a small club to successful - Thomas Frank, Liam Rosenior, even, dare I suggest, John Eustace - could get us all enjoying, believing and just loving coming to football again!

Kevin: What about Rosenior, he did a great job before moving to Chelsea then getting sacked. I think he'll be a good fit for us in the Championship.

Dusty: Bellamy would be my first choice closely followed by Dyche. The main issue is player recruitment because Burnley did not buy well last summer. Poor judgement by the club buying too many players with no proven record in the Premier League. We need someone who can attract quality to join Burnley and play to win.

Andy: Craig Bellamy, Steven Gerrard or Sean Dyche are suitable to get the club out of this mess and stop them from doing a Leicester City and dropping into the third tier.

Thomas: Will the Burnley board admit they got it wrong and re-employ Sean Dyche? I very much doubt it. If not please don't go for a so-called big name like Steven Gerrard.

The Burnley fans never really seemed to take to Scott Parker but his biggest problem was Sunderland and Leeds being more competitive than the Clarets as promoted clubs this season.

Burnley are down and searching for a new manager, but Leeds go marching on together - they have had an outstanding campaign under Daniel Farke even if their performance against Chelsea in last weekend's FA Cup semi-final was disappointing compared to their recent form.

If Leeds lose this, then it is squeaky bum time for them with games to come against Tottenham and West Ham, but they won't mess up.

For me, this is the result that will secure their safety. Yes, there would still be work to do, but if there ever was a gimme this season then it is playing Burnley at home.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Scott Read
BBC Radio Lancashire journalist

Image source, Getty Images

The fourth paragraph down on the official press release confirming the departure of Scott Parker tells you everything about how much he is regarded by Burnley's board and chairman Alan Pace.

The prospect of even sitting down with this manager to discuss whether they can or should go on would have been unthinkable 12 months ago.

Parker has represented himself and the club impeccably during his time as manager and he was deeply admired and respected throughout the football club.

He once said to me in a pre-match news conference "let's be different" when asked about the criticism he was receiving from some supporters, which at times felt it was beyond what was responsible.

The football club has been trending this way for some time. Sean Dyche was sacked with the club in the Premier League's relegation zone. Vincent Kompany failed to keep them up. Parker joins the list - but this is not entirely on Scott.

The club's recruitment policy under Kompany failed. Highly successful loan players left following promotion and younger recruits with potential sell-on value were signed. And relegation followed.

They changed their approach under Parker. Loan players were signed with obligations to buy and they won promotion once again. Almost half of the money spent in the summer window this season were signings they were obliged to make. And relegation followed.

And now, for a third successive Championship campaign, they will go into a summer surrounded by uncertainty, needing a new manager and all the upheaval that brings.

Burnley wanted Kompany to stay and bring them back up, and before a ball was kicked this season the club would have wanted the same with Parker.

The Championship is littered with examples of mismanagement and poor decisions.

Look how quickly things have unravelled for Leicester City. How long is it since Blackburn Rovers, Middlesbrough, West Brom and Stoke City played in the top flight? The list goes on.

If you don't bounce back straight away it becomes increasingly difficult to bounce back at all.

Be careful what you wish for - the good ones don't come around very often.

Back to that fourth paragraph down on the club's press release and some of the words used; "professionalism", "dedication", "respect" and "gratitude".

Who would you like to be the next Burnley boss now that Parker has gone?

Send us your views here

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

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 on Thursday following Burnley's relegation from the Premier League last week, with the Clarets now turning their attention to appointing his successor.

Several 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, he 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.

Who do you want to next take charge of the Clarets? Which choice would be best to get the club back to the Premier League?

Get in touch with your views here

Read more on Scott Parker's departure from Burnley

Natalie Bromley
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

It should never have taken this long, but Parker has gone. And an almighty sigh of relief has rippled across the Burnley fanbase.

But what a waste of a season. We've achieved nothing, have gone backwards rather than forwards and are no closer to finding the grit we need to try and compete at this level.

I feel a real level of confusion as to what our overall strategy was. If Parker was sacked because his primary objective was survival, then that means avoiding relegation was fundamental. Which, in turn, suggests the club should have done everything they could to avoid that happening, including sacking a desperately under-performing manager when it could have made a difference and achieved that very goal!

Perhaps it was financial - do we have to pay less in compensation if he didn't achieve survival?

Whatever the justification, every decision in this process has just felt so very odd.

Parker has left with the dignity you'd expect from a man of his grace. Conversations like this are horrible on a human level - it's never nice to publicly scrutinise someone on a global stage and advocate for their employment to come to an end. But the reality is Parker is not yet at a stage where he can effectively manage at Premier League level and Burnley simply don't have the luxury of allowing someone to learn on the job.

We need to get back to mounting a realistic campaign for survival.

Who do we get now?

Craig Bellamy and Steven Gerrard are early candidates being named in the media. Does Mike Jackson get a second chance to claim the job on a permanent basis?

Bellamy knows the club well, but has had a disappointing campaign with Wales, failing to qualify with one of the best sqauds they've ever had and with an expanded World Cup. Jackson so very nearly kept us up in his first spell in charge, but doesn't have the experience as a first-team coach.

Gerrard feels a risk, and often gets put in that "great player doesn't make a great coach" bracket, but given the success Frank Lampard has found this season with Coventry then perhaps that alumni of Premier League greats can finally shine as coaches?

I said this a few days ago and I say it again. Whoever you get, get it right!

Find more from Natalie Bromley at No Nay Never podcast, external

Scott Parker has had to endure another torrid time in the Premier League as manager.

Parker's 664-day reign at Burnley has ended in disappointing fashion as he leaves the Clarets eight days after being relegated from the top flight.

On three occasions, Parker has proved his pedigree in regrouping a relegated side and returning them to the Premier League.

However, it's in the top division where Parker has come unstuck with Bournemouth,Fulham and now Burnley.

After stints in the Premier League and Championship, the 45-year-old chose a different route and opted for European management.

But 12 games into his tenure at Belgian side Club Bruges, he was sacked.

It was at Turf Moor where the former Premier League player would have an emphatic return to football management.

The Clarets secured 100 points alongside Leeds United last season to secure their promotion and Parker told BBC Radio Lancashire that he spent a "year contemplating" after his time in Belgium.

Unfortunately for Parker, his style and winless runs had already prompted some fans to turn against him.

One Burnley fan on this page said: "Parker has shown at Bournemouth, Fulham and Burnley that the Championship is his limit."

Whether that is the case - he undoubtedly will be "contemplating" where it all went wrong during his final season at Burnley.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Scott Parker's departure, its timing and whether you agree with the club's decision.

Here are some of your comments:

Mike: You have to wonder why the director of football hasn't been sacked along with those responsible for recruitment. It's not all Parker's fault.

Paul: Parker has tried hard but not succeeded and his departure is well overdue. Looking forward to a more proactive approach from a new manager who can instill a positive, winning mindset in the squad.

Bob: Great in the Championship but it's been difficult in the Premier league. Let down by our recruitment and our board. That won't change with a new manager. I wish him every success wherever he goes. Thank you.

Alan: Useless. What on earth is the Burnley board doing? Their ineptitude is beyond belief. If Parker had to go it was at Christmas, what is the point now? They must have a list of possible replacements so three weeks is not going to make the slightest difference. Parker should at least have been given the respect of being allowed to leave with a full season under his belt, rather than maintaining the tag of unable to manage a complete Premier League season. Disgraceful.

Barry: I think Scott Parker is an honest football person and he has conducted himself this season as a true gentleman. What you need to ask yourself is whether anyone else would have got more out of this current squad? And probably not. I wish Scott all the very best.

Richard: The Sean Dyche legacy of "legs, hearts, minds" and "the minimum requirement is maximum effort" has gone missing this season after such a strong promotion. I wish Scott Parker well and look forward to a return to the days when visiting teams hate coming to the Turf.