BURNLEY must fight tooth and nail to hang on to Sean Dyche if Sunderland come calling, according to a man who represented both clubs.

Leighton James has experienced life with the Clarets and the Black Cats, and while he describes Sunderland as a ‘wonderful football club’, he believes Burnley must do all they can to keep Dyche if they are to get back in the Premier League at the first attempt.

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Dyche has been linked with the vacant job at the Stadium of Light since Dick Advocaat resigned on Sunday, having been high on the Wearsiders’ short list when it looked like Advocaat would leave in the summer.

While Burnley are yet to receive an approach for Dyche, James, who played nearly 400 games for the Clarets, believes they must keep hold of the boss who took them to the top flight against the odds in 2013/14.

“I think a lot of it depends on how Burnley see themselves,” said James, who played more than 50 times for Sunderland.

“If they regard themselves as serious Championship contenders and they are looking to get back in the Premier League at the first attempt, which they are, then they should be desperate to keen Sean.

“It’s a difficult one for Sean, he has obviously done very well at Burnley, but that will naturally bring attention from other clubs, it’s the one downside of success, it’s part and parcel of the game.”

Former Wales international James remembers his time on Wearside fondly, and believes Sunderland fans deserve more than the perennial relegation battles they have experienced in the past three seasons.

“Sunderland are a wonderful football club, they have great fans and they’re great people up there, they deserve better than they’ve been getting recently,” said the 62-year-old.

“But Burnley are a team that look to be on the up, while Sunderland have been struggling for a little while.”

Despite urging the Clarets to keep hold of their boss, James believes listening to what the Black Cats have to say if they do come calling would do Dyche no harm.

“Sean Dyche will lose nothing by going to talk to people,” he said. “If he goes and speaks to other clubs and still decides Burnley is the best place for him then it is to Burnley’s benefit. He will stay in the knowledge that he has listened to what they have to say.

“There is nothing wrong with speaking to interested clubs and hearing them out, I’m not saying he has to sign for them, he could speak to them and decide Burnley is the best place for him.

“He is a bright manager and he is going to know what the best move for him is.”

While Dyche has admirers at the Stadium of Light it is believed Sam Allardyce tops the shortlist to replace Advocaat.

Allardyce is out of work, having left West Ham in the summer, but there have been mixed messages about his willingness to return to the dugout in the North East, which could see Sunderland pursue other options, with Nigel Pearson another possible candidate.