THE departures of Scott Arfield and Dean Marney this summer don't signal the end of an era for Burnley, insists boss Sean Dyche.

The long-serving duo have been two of Dyche's stalwarts during Burnley's rise since his appointment in October 2012, with Marney already at the club when Dyche arrived and Arfield one of his first permanent signings the following summer, on a free transfer from Huddersfield.

They both played an integral role in the Clarets' first promotion to the Premier League in 2013/14, a campaign Dyche labelled his 'favourite' as Burnley boss yesterday, but will depart when their contracts end this summer.

That will leave just four of that side that finished second in Dyche's first full season at the club, but Tom Heaton, Sam Vokes and Kevin Long are now more often found on the bench, while Ben Mee's future remains uncertain with his contract up at the end of next season.

But asked if this was the end of an era, Dyche said: "I think it's just natural progression, players have been here a long time.

"People say you're playing the same team all the time, impossible, you look at who's left – six – Scott, Tom, Voksey, Ben, Deano, Longy.

"Deano and Scotty, it’s contracts, life changes and age changes, new players come in and the demand changes.

"Scotty wants a new challenge as well. His alignment in his own mind here wasn't been as clear as it has been in the past maybe.

"He's looking and thinking how much am I going to figure? Sometimes it’s them as well. Contracts' up, offer comes in, but we’re respectful of that.

"These are players that have done massive things for the club. If we can be user friendly we certainly will be."

The departure of two players with a combined 414 appearances for the club could be seen as another sign of Burnley's progress from where they were when Dyche first arrived.

Now the club stand on the brink of a place in Europe, something that could be achieved this weekend if results go the Clarets' way.

But asked if this had been his most satisfying season in management, Dyche reflected back on that first promotion campaign as his favourite.

"It’s (this season) satisfying for different reasons. All the seasons I’ve had here have been different, they’ve all got a positive to them," he said.

"The first season was a group I’d taken over, and we finished 11th despite looking over our shoulder a bit in the Championship.

"The second season was the ultimate season in a group of players giving every inch of themselves to the cause and getting promoted.

"Then we went down but built off the pitch, so that was a massive positive for the bigger picture of the club.

"We went backup in a blaze of glory, going 23 unbeaten and winning the title.

"Then into last season, adjusting from the first time, learning a bit more about it, putting a bit more finance in and we stayed up and built for now.

"Every season has had a different story. It’s hard to choose the one.

"The favourite one for the romance was the first promotion. The numbers we were working at are unfathomable now for teams in the Championship. We had 17 pros who were more or less used week in, week out. I still marvel at that season.

"But you look at this season for different reasons, what the players have achieved this season.

"There’s been so many good things. You enjoy the work and the constant striving to be successful for you, your staff and players.

"You still have to pull your head out of the sand once in a while and acknowledge what you’ve done, a lot has been delivered."