SEAN Dyche says Steve Stone’s absence from Burnley is “agreed” as the club conduct an investigation into the Under-23s coach.

The former England winger, once a team-mate of Dyche’s at Nottingham Forest, has not taken charge of the last three Development Squad games.

The club have not commented on the situation but according to reports it relates to a bullying claim.

Dyche believes the probe into Stone’s conduct should have been kept private and insists the decision to have him stay away from the club was discussed with the 48-year-old.

"It is slightly misrepresented because it is an agreed break with the club whilst things are being checked over,” the Burnley boss said at his press conference ahead of Saturday’s trip to Sheffield United.

"We try and keep things private for the right reasons. Anything that is ever asked of us we will look into which we are doing now.

"It is just a shame in the modern world that not many things remain private and I think that is a bit unfair in this case because nothing has been agreed, nothing is decided it is just an ongoing view of a moment in time and the club will take care of that privately and appropriately."