SEAN Dyche has been offered the Burnley job, the Lancashire Telegraph understands.

But the former Watford boss is also believed to be wanted by Crystal Palace, so has asked for the weekend to think over the offer.

Speculation about Ian Holloway's future at Blackpool could also yet provide another intriguing twist in the search for Eddie Howe's successor, which is expected to reach a conclusion next week.

Dyche initially headed a three-man shortlist. Falkirk boss Steven Pressley and St Johnstone manager Steve Lomas were also in the running for the Turf Moor hotseat, while the Clarets chiefs are also later thought to have considered an ambitious move for Holloway.

But Dyche is believed to be favoured by joint chairmen John Banaszkiewicz and Mike Garlick.

The Clarets could still make a move for Holloway, who is thought to be disillusioned at Bloomfield Road.

 

A fee of £400,000 is believed to be enough for a compensation package.

The new manager will also inherit a director of football, with West Bromwich Albion’s head of technical recruitment Lee Darnbrough set to start in December – an appointment which Eddie Howe is understood to have pushed for before leaving to return to Bournemouth, but one which will be honoured by the club.

Caretaker boss Terry Pashley will remain in charge for today’s game at Cardiff City, with the new manager set to take the reins next week and prepare for his first game, at home to Wolves next Saturday.

Dyche would perhaps be considered a surprise choice, given other names that were linked with the role, including former Wolves boss Mick McCarthy and Portsmouth manager Michael Appleton, who would be familiar with Darnbrough from his time at West Brom, where he had spells as a coach under Tony Mowbray and Roy Hodgson, caretaker manager and assistant to head coach Roberto Di Matteo.

However, Dyche comes with an impressive coaching pedigree, which began with Watford’s youth system in July 2009 under Malky Mackay, before he worked his way up to become the Scot’s successor two years later.

The 41-year-old former Chesterfield, Watford and Northampton defender guided Watford to their highest league finish for four years in his first season in charge, amassing 64 points, but was controversially sacked following a change in ownership.

Gianfranco Zola was named as his replacement a week later.

Since his dismissal the former Nottingham Forest trainee has worked with the England Under 21 set-up on a temporary coaching basis.