FORMER Claret Brian Flynn believes Burnley could break into the top six in the Premier League under Sean Dyche.

Flynn was part of the last Clarets side to finish in the top half of the top division in 1974-75, a feat that looks likely to be matched by the class of 2017/18.

But the 62-year-old, who began his career at Turf Moor and still lives in the town having enjoyed two spells at the club, insists the Clarets can aim even higher under Dyche’s stewardship.

“It’s the culture from the manager and his ambitions, where he wants to be and what he wants to do,” Flynn said of the Clarets’ success.

“When you get into a situation like that Sean is the guiding light as to where the next step is.

“The next one is the question of where can Burnley go next? What is the next step for them? They’ve gone from a yo-yo club to a top half Premier League team.

“Why not top six? I think it’s achievable. They’ve broken some important financial barriers recently, they’ve shattered them as a football club.”

Burnley have achieved their rise without breaking the budget, something Flynn credits Dyche for while also highlighting the Turf chief’s ambition as a key part of Burnley’s progress.

But Flynn believes the outgoings of clubs will only continue to rise.

“Maybe the next step is a £100,000 a week player? Maybe that is achievable in the next four-and-a-half years,” he said.

“That’s the balancing act Sean has got and he’s done it well. He’s managed upwards as well as the players and he’d done it perfectly to get Burnley here.”

As a former manager himself Flynn, was boss at Wrexham and Swansea before an eight-year spell as Wales Under-21 boss, he knows the benefit of a strong backroom team and he believes Dyche has that at Turf Moor.

“A lot of credit goes to a lot of people,” Flynn said of Burnley who rewarded Dyche with a new four-and-a-half year contract last month and also tied down assistant Ian Woan and first team coach Tony Loughlan to new deals.

“Top of the list is Sean, he takes a lot of the credit and rightly so but he’s got some great staff working with him.

“Having been a manager I can say that’s so important, you need your backroom staff and your coaching staff and all the medical team. The whole package at Burnley is spot on, the glove fits as they say.

“It’s vital you work as a team, any successful manager will always reward his staff and that is what Sean has done and rightly so.”

  • Brian Flynn will be signing copies of Leon Barton's biography on him, Little Wonder, at the Clarets club shop at Turf Moor from 3pm to 5pm on Thursday, February 22.