RELEGATION had just been confirmed, but the applause for Sean Dyche and his players was as warm as it had been after promotion.

If the unanswered questions of 2010 had been answered, Burnley still need Dyche as much as ever.

Five years ago, after their first season in the Premier League, the Clarets were left wondering.

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What if Owen Coyle hadn’t left halfway through the season?

What if the new manager had not struggled to win over the confidence of his players?

Without that upheaval, were the Clarets capable of survival in the Premier League?

We will never completely know, because no two seasons are the same.

But the evidence of this season suggests that, even with a completely united front and the man who got them promoted at the helm throughout, Burnley simply do not have enough financial resources to remain in the top flight.

Just like five years ago, they were relegated with two games remaining.

Only new outside investment, and all the risks that could bring, would seem to give them a chance of progressing further.

Despite relegation, Dyche’s popularity is not in question.

Yes, there are some fans who felt he could have done certain things differently.

But most acknowledge that he has achieved pretty much the maximum with the tools he has been given.

His reluctance to comment on his future in Saturday’s post-match press conference, then, was a little worrying.

Perhaps he just felt it was not the time for it, perhaps he will clarify his thoughts this week.

Clearly the questions were posed at a time when disappointment was high.

But that he hesitated at all was slightly concerning, because Burnley need Dyche to right another wrong from five years ago.

Then, with Brian Laws in charge rather than Coyle, the Clarets were not in ideal shape to bounce straight back to the Premier League, and they did not.

Danny Ings will go this summer, and few would be surprised if there was interest in Kieran Trippier too.

But otherwise Burnley could potentially go for promotion next season with more or less the same squad and manager that amassed 93 points two years ago.

It would appear to give them a realistic chance, but everything would change if Dyche departed – just as it did when Coyle left.

Hopefully, Dyche will not feel he has achieved the maximum he can with Burnley, that he has taken the club as far as he can within the Clarets’ financial constraints.

If most managers might hope for unexpected new investment, Dyche would probably be wary of that too given what happened to him at Watford.

Hopefully the recent links with Derby will not amount to anything, with Steve McClaren looking more likely to stay with the Rams.

Dyche may have been unable to prevent relegation, but it was about as noble a relegation as you could get.

Relegation has plunged plenty of other clubs into chaos before now, but there was no infighting and there were no fan protests. In fact, there was barely a boo all season.

Saturday’s final whistle brought with it not depression but an outpouring of pride, even good humour.

“You’re going down with the Burnley,” the 3,000 travelling fans chanted at the Hull supporters.

That relegation was confirmed after victory was a strange experience. George Boyd even punched the air at full time.

But somehow it was fitting.

Burnley may have lost the battle, but they have won so many admirers both this season and last.

That is down to Dyche.

Hopefully his work at Turf Moor is not yet done.