BURNLEY boss Sean Dyche has emerged as one of the names in the frame for the managerial vacancy at his old club, Millwall.

Kenny Jackett stunned the London club by resigning yesterday after six seasons at The Den. He was the sixth longest serving manager in the Football League, with a rein of five years and 185 days.

Dyche, who steered the Clarets away from a relegation battle in the penultimate game to an 11th placed finish with Saturday’s win over Ipswich Town, was listed at 25/1 with bookmakers to succeed Jackett.

Former Burnley manager Eddie Howe was installed as the early favourite, although it is highly unlikely he would leave Bournemouth after masterminding promotion to the Championship just six months after leaving Turf Moor to return to the south coast club.

It is also understood Howe would cost more than Millwall would be able to afford to pay in compensation.

Dyche would be a more realistic target for Millwall, where he spent three years as a player from 1999 to 2002, winning promotion to the Championship and narrowly missing out on a place in the Premier League.

It is a club close to the 41-year-old’s heart, and he boasts an enviable record as both a player and manager against the Lions. In 11 meetings with Millwall he has won 10 and lost one.

Ahead of returning to face his old club with Burnley in January, Dyche described his time with Millwall as “hand in glove” adding: “It just fit.”

Just over six months into his Turf Moor tenure, former Watford boss Dyche is currently preparing for a rebuilding project at Burnley, starting from the back after goalkeeper Lee Grant completed his return to Derby County on a three-year deal yesterday after coming to the end of his Clarets contract.

Burnley had held talks with the former Sheffield Wednesday stopper to extend his stay.

But on the day he was crowned Burnley supporters’ clubs’ overall player of the year, last Tuesday, Grant is understood to have signed a pre-contract agreement with the Rams, ahead of the final game of the season.

The 30-year-old had played all bar the final minute of the Championship’s 46 games and had been in discussions with Burnley over a new deal.

But with the freedom to hold talks with other clubs from January as his original contract ran down, Derby - where Grant started his professional career - made a more attractive offer and yesterday it was confirmed he had signed a three-year deal to return to Pride Park.

Of leaving Burnley following 130 appearances, Grant said: “I enjoyed my time there, three good years.

“It would have been nice if we could have pushed a little bit harder for that top six.

“There was a couple of times when it looked like we would do, but we didn't quite manage it.

“This season we got to seventh and I don't think we won for five or six games, so it was frustrating but that has happened to many clubs in this division.

“I look back fondly on my time there.”

Supporters’ player of the year Grant added: “It was good to finish on a high note. Of my three years there, my third was probably my best year.

“I have come away with some awards from the supporters, and that was nice.”

In response to the departure, Dyche said: "Lee was signed at a significant cost to the club and was one of our biggest earners.

"We were keen to retain his services and made an offer to do so, but the lure of moving back to Derby, where his family are based, ultimately proved too good to turn down and we are sorry to lose him.

"However, we wish him well and thank him for his contribution to the club."