STEPHEN Ward feels Sean Dyche’s people skills are as big a factor as football management in the Burnley boss’s high five at Turf Moor.

The Republic of Ireland left back was recruited from Wolves ahead of Dyche’s first Premier League season in the summer of 2014.

And the 32-year-old feels the happy camp the Clarets chief encourages is why it has been a successful one in his five years at the helm.

Ahead of Dyche’s anniversary on Monday, Ward said: “He’s great. He gets involved in a bit of craic with the lads.

“How the team gels together comes from the manager and staff. He likes to have a laugh together and we spend a lot of time together. It’s informal and a bit of a laugh. But he knows when to cross that line into seriousness.

“The club has gone from strength to strength and it’s good to have him here.”

And Ward admits that approach means he commands respect from the players.

He added: “As much as you can have a laugh with him you know where the line is and not to cross it.

“I have been lucky to work under some really good, experienced managers. They all have different qualities. He (Dyche) is very good with the lads. There’s that team spirit, very similar to when I was at Wolves.

Ward, who turned down Brighton to join Burnley, added: “I knew a few people here, a few lads who’d played at Wolves, and they spoke very highly of the manager. I could see the gaffer’s qualities straight away and his record speaks for itself.

“I think winning the title is the standout moment.

“Nowadays it’s a bigger achievement to stay in the Premier League but winning things, and being able to look back on that, is massive. Those last few weeks when we finally got promoted and won the Championship was a standout moment.”