Three managers Burnley could target after Nicky Hayen’s sacking following the Lincoln City defeat.

Burnley have wasted little time making a major decision after their miserable start to the Championship campaign, with Nicky Hayen dismissed from his position following a damaging defeat to Lincoln City.

The Clarets entered the season with expectations of challenging for an immediate return to the Premier League after their relegation from the top flight. Instead, their campaign has quickly gone in the opposite direction, leaving the club needing another managerial appointment to rescue their season.

Burnley have collected only eight points from their opening 12 league matches and currently sit 22nd in the Championship, firmly inside the relegation zone. Their poor run eventually convinced the club to part company with Hayen, who had only taken charge at Turf Moor in July.

The Belgian coach replaced Scott Parker during the summer, but his appointment failed to deliver the expected improvement. Burnley have managed only one league victory this season, with Derby County and Preston North End the only sides below them in the table.

The club now needs to act quickly and appoint a manager capable of restoring confidence, improving results and potentially turning the season around.

Here are three candidates Burnley should seriously consider.

Photo by Colin Smith, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Rob Edwards

Rob Edwards is likely to attract attention whenever an attractive Championship vacancy becomes available, and Burnley could be an excellent opportunity for the former Luton Town boss.

Although Edwards’ most recent spell at Wolves did not go according to plan, his previous work suggests he could be ideally suited to the situation at Turf Moor.

His recent achievements in the Championship are particularly relevant. Edwards enjoyed an impressive promotion campaign with Luton Town, while his work with Middlesbrough at the beginning of last season also demonstrated his ability to quickly improve a side.

Burnley desperately need a manager who can lift the mood around the club and reconnect the players with their ambitions. Edwards has shown strong motivational qualities throughout his career, and that could be extremely valuable following such a poor start.

His understanding of the Championship is another major advantage. Burnley need someone who knows the demands of the division and can immediately focus on results rather than spending months adapting to the competition.

Despite his unsuccessful Wolves experience, Edwards remains a manager with a proven record of achieving success at this level.

Carlos Corberan

Carlos Corberan is another candidate who should be firmly considered by Burnley.

The Spaniard was dismissed by Valencia earlier this season after a disappointing beginning to their La Liga campaign. However, Burnley should not allow that recent setback to completely overshadow what Corberan has previously achieved in England.

Corberan has developed a strong reputation in the Championship and has demonstrated that he can organise teams and make them competitive against well-funded opponents.

During his time with Huddersfield Town and West Bromwich Albion, he guided both clubs into the Championship play-offs. Neither side ultimately had enough quality to complete the promotion journey, but Corberan repeatedly showed that he could take teams towards the top end of the division.

That experience could make him particularly attractive to Burnley.

The Clarets possess resources that many Championship clubs can only dream of, meaning Corberan could potentially achieve even more if given the necessary backing and sufficient time.

His previous work with players such as Largie Ramazani also provides an interesting connection. If Corberan can bring out the best in Burnley’s attacking talent, the club could quickly look like a completely different team.

Burnley must therefore judge Corberan on his overall record rather than simply focusing on his latest experience in Spain.

Kasper Hjulmand

Kasper Hjulmand offers Burnley a completely different option but could potentially represent an ambitious appointment.

The Danish coach is currently available after leaving Bayer Leverkusen by mutual agreement in June 2026. At 54, Hjulmand brings considerable experience from both club and international football.

His most notable achievement came with Denmark, whom he guided to the semi-finals of Euro 2020. He also successfully led the national team through qualification for two major international tournaments.

Hjulmand has also enjoyed domestic success. He won the Danish Superliga with FC Nordsjaelland in 2012 before later moving into more demanding managerial roles.

His most recent club position came at Bayer Leverkusen, where he took charge in September 2025. During his time there, he helped the German side finish sixth in the Bundesliga, reach the last 16 of the Champions League and progress to the semi-finals of the DFB-Pokal.

Burnley have previously been linked with Hjulmand, making him a familiar name in discussions surrounding the club.

His tactical organisation, international experience and ability to work in high-pressure environments would make him an intriguing candidate.

The obvious concern is his lack of experience managing in English domestic football. Moving from Germany to the Championship would represent a significant change, and Burnley would need to decide whether his qualities outweigh that uncertainty.

Nevertheless, if the appointment worked, Hjulmand could prove to be a major coup.

Burnley need the right appointment

The pressure is now on Burnley’s hierarchy to ensure Hayen’s replacement is capable of changing the club’s fortunes quickly.

The Clarets cannot afford another lengthy period of uncertainty while sitting in the relegation zone. Their squad was built with promotion ambitions, so the next manager must find a way to get the best from the players already available.

Edwards offers Championship experience and motivational qualities, Corberan provides a proven record of competing near the top of the division, while Hjulmand brings elite international and European experience.

Whichever route Burnley choose, the decision could determine whether this season becomes a promotion recovery story or an unexpected relegation battle.