Steven Gerrard has not sat on an English bench since Aston Villa sacked him in October 2022. On Saturday evening, Burnley opened a new door: the club dismissed Nicky Hayen with immediate effect after a 4-1 collapse at Lincoln City, and within hours bookmakers had Gerrard at 4/1 to take the vacancy, according to a market round-up by Freebets.
The former Liverpool and England captain has been out of work since leaving Saudi side Al-Ettifaq by mutual consent in January 2025. His Rangers title in 2020/21 remains the standout line on his managerial CV; the Villa spell and 18 months in Saudi Arabia are the ones he will want to answer.
Burnley is not an obvious comeback stage. The club has Premier League parachute money but sits three points off the Championship safety line. Freebets reports Gerrard is open to a Championship return, with Wrexham also linked.
Hayen gone after 106 days
Hayen was appointed on a three-year contract on 10 July as Scott Parker’s permanent replacement, with the club announcing the appointment of “Nicky Hayen as the Club’s new Head Coach on a 3-year contract”.
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The Belgian never found his footing. He won one of 12 Championship games, a 4-0 away win at Watford on 10 October, and left the Clarets 22nd on 8 points with the joint-worst defensive record in the division alongside Preston North End.
The 4-1 defeat at Lincoln City on Saturday afternoon was the breaking point. In its official statement, Burnley said the board had taken the decision “following a disappointing start to the Championship season.”
Hayen faced the press at Sincil Bank minutes after the final whistle, before the dismissal was confirmed.
“I apologise for this performance and the situation we’re in at the moment. But I also know that it doesn’t matter to them because they’re really frustrated, and I can totally understand and accept it,” he told reporters.
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Edwards also sounded out
The bookmakers’ board and the reporter chatter do not line up. While Gerrard sits on top of the odds, former Wolves manager Rob Edwards is being pushed as a serious internal candidate.
Alan Nixon reports that Edwards has “backing within the Clarets’ squad and hierarchy”. Edwards has been out of work since Wolves let him go in June, so Burnley would not have to pay compensation, and his Championship playoff final win with Luton Town is the strongest line on a Welshman’s CV built on Forest Green, Watford, Luton, Middlesbrough and Wolves.
Freebets’ top five rounds out with Carlos Corberan at 5/1, with former Burnley manager Sean Dyche and Dave Challinor both at 8/1.
Portsmouth at Turf Moor next
Burnley host Portsmouth at Turf Moor on Saturday 31 October. Whoever is in the dugout will inherit a squad with Jacob Bruun Larsen and Jamie Vardy among the injury absentees.
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