Scott Parker has left his role as Burnley manager after a run of poor results and growing unrest among supporters, with some fans urging the club to appoint former Cardiff striker Craig Bellamy as his successor.
Burnley won three of their first nine league fixtures this season but were then dragged into the relegation zone by seven successive defeats. A later spell of five draws in seven matches — including determined performances against Manchester United and Liverpool — was undone by a 3-0 defeat at Sunderland and a loss to fellow strugglers West Ham, prompting sections of the fanbase to call for Parker’s removal.
Parker publicly expressed his frustration at supporters’ chants, while chairman Alan Pace had earlier defended him in a BBC Football Focus interview, comparing protesting fans to children. Parker had been appointed to succeed Vincent Kompany ahead of the 2024–25 campaign.
Last season Parker guided Burnley back to the Premier League despite significant summer departures of key players such as Wilson Odobert, Sander Berge and Vitinho. The Clarets secured automatic promotion, finishing level on points with Leeds United but losing the Championship title on goal difference, and kept 30 clean sheets in 46 league games — the most in a single Championship season.
This term has proved tougher. Burnley have conceded 68 goals in 34 league matches, the highest total in the division, and results deteriorated to the point where a change of manager was deemed necessary.
Parker’s promotion record as a coach includes previous successes with Fulham in 2020 and Bournemouth in 2022. He also had a brief spell at Club Brugge, where he was sacked in 2023 after winning two of 12 games. As a player, Parker turned out for Charlton, Chelsea, Newcastle, West Ham and Tottenham and earned 18 caps for England.
The club has yet to announce a permanent replacement; supporters have named Craig Bellamy among their preferred options as Burnley begin the search for a new manager.
