Burnley, the English club, announced today, Friday, the dismissal of Shane Deitch from the first team coaching of the club, especially as the team is struggling with relegation this season.
And the British news agency “BA Media” reported that this decision comes while the team is ranked eighteenth in the English Premier League, four points behind the safety zone, knowing that the team has won only four matches in the league this season.
A club statement said: “Burnley Football Club can confirm that it has terminated its association with coach Shane Deitch, assistant coach Ian Wan, first-team coach Steve Stones and goalkeeper coach Billy Mercier.”
It is noteworthy that Deitch, 50, whose contract was due to expire in September 2025, is the most coach who has coached a team in the English Premier League, as he took over Burnley in October 2012.
During his tenure in charge, he promoted the team twice to the Premier League, and the team was able to play at the European level in 2018, although its budget is limited. But Burnley has been in the last three places almost all season, and the last loss against Norwich, 0/2, was a major setback for the team in its battle for survival.
“First of all, we would like to place on record our deepest thanks to Shane and his staff for the accomplishments they have achieved with the club in the past ten years,” said club president Alan Bass.
“But this season’s results have been disappointing and while this decision was very difficult, with eight crucial matches remaining in the season, we felt that a change was needed to give the team the best possible chance of survival in the Premier League.”
He confirmed, “The process of replacing Shane has begun and more details will be announced to fans as soon as possible.”
Burnley will visit West Ham next Sunday.
Bass added in the statement that team captain Ben Mai, 32, will be part of the coaching staff on the team’s trip to West Ham.
Bass said: “We asked the U-23 coach, Paul Jenkins, Academy director Paul Jenkins, U-23 goalkeeper coach Conor King, and captain Ben Mei to lead the team in Sunday’s game against West Ham.”