Wad a way to go! Ten months of turmoil ends in sudden departure

CHRIS Waddle's arrival at Burnley to cut his teeth in management was hailed as a major coup for the Turf Moor club.

The former England player had long been linked with a move into the manager's chair and appeared to have hand picked the Burnley job after Adrian Heath had moved to Everton.

Ten months later the question remains unanswered as to whether Waddle can translate his playing talents to the job as 'gaffer'.

Taken as a whole, Burnley season's was a major disappointment as a place five points out of the play-offs the previous season was turned into an ultimately successful fight against relegation which went to the final day of the season.

There were signs, however, that Waddle was getting to grips with a job that appeared to have initially caught him by surprise. The transition from player to player-boss was not a smooth one and in January Waddle admitted to me that he would learn more in his first season in management that he would ever learn again. It didn't help that Burnley made a disastrous start to his reign.

It took them seven games to score a League goal and from then on they were facing a fight to get away from the bottom four. Just as crucially, some of Waddle's summer signings did not set the world on fire and his early selections broke up much of last season's side.

Consequently there was some disaffection and disharmony in the camp from certain quarters.

And it took until after Christmas with the return of the likes of Damian Matthew, Mark Winstanley, Jamie Hoyland and most notably Glen Little that the Clarets' fortunes looked up enough for them to secure their safety.

November was a bad month for Waddle as Burnley abjectly lost 3-0 at home to Rotherham in the FA Cup and then the player-boss vented his anger at the fans after a win over Northampton.

The supporters who hailed his arrival felt they deserved better and from then Waddle didn't enjoy their 100 per cent backing, although the majority didn't appear to lose all faith despite the on-going struggle.

By January Waddle had brought players back into the fold, introduced Little and played Harrison consistently in the defence.

He at last hit on a winning formula and at times the side looked as good as any in the division, beating all of the top six sides bar Bristol Rovers.

Their inconsistency let them down, however, which ensured a fight to the death but Waddle publicly backed his players with the exception of the late collapse at Oldham and only once ducked the Press in the aftermath of the East Monday debacle at Wigan.

To his credit Waddle also had successes in the transfer marker and in bringing players to the fore.

Neil Moore may have landed on his doorstep but Waddle gave him the chance and the central defender had an exceptional season given that he had previously played only 42 League games in his career. Mark Robertson was another introduced with some success, his faith in Chris Woods was fully justified following the sale of Marlon Beresford, John Mullin added a timely spark and Andy Payton proved to be one of the shrewdest captures of the season.

The last day win over Plymouth which kept the Clarets up appeared on face value to be a watershed with everyone concerned vowing to avoid a repeat.

Waddle's reaction was low-key after the match but there was no hint that he was not ready to repair the damage next season.

His style of management didn't always seem suited to the day-in day-out grind of the Second Division and there was no doubt he felt restricted by the club's financial position.

But he did preach constructive football and with rising stars Little and Andy Cooke two of seven players who played on the final day of the season offered new terms, Waddle looked to be building for a more successful future.

His sudden departure means we will never know if that would have unfolded.

Timetable for a quick departure

CHRIS WADDLE'S departure as Burnley's 26th manager last night was as sudden as it was unexpected.

Burnley had endured a dismal season saved only by a last day win over Plymouth and a defeat for Brentford which kept them up.

But despite the problems on and off the pitch everything pointed to Waddle continuing next season.

SATURDAY, MAY 2: Asked after the Plymouth victory about his position, Waddle told reporters that any questions would have to be directed at the club's powers-that-be. There was no indication, however, that the board was ready to terminate Waddle's three-year contract. WEDNESDAY, MAY 5: Waddle met chairman Frank Teasdale to discuss what terms the club would be able to offer their out-of-contract players. The player-manager then held talks with the players to put the offers to them.

FRIDAY, MAY 7: Waddle again met Teasdale with assistant manager Glenn Roeder when it was understood they would be ironing out details for next season's campaign and Waddle would get a further idea of his budget. Waddle told me that the meeting had again largely revolved around players' contracts and offers. He suggested that his future was not open to debate and said that any speculation at the end of the season had been "just a lot of rumours."

MONDAY, MAY 9: A meeting of the Burnley board which was thought to be a routine meeting to discuss contracts. Waddle informed Gordon Cowans and presumably his other staff members of his decision to leave the club.

TUESDAY MORNING, MAY 10: Still no hint from Waddle that he was set to leave as he reiterated his desire to keep Glenn Little at the club.

TUESDAY AFTERNOON, MAY 10: Gordon Cowans told seven of the players returning from an end-of-season trip to Spain of the manager's decision.

f=Zurich Bd BTBernard McGrath, of Huncoat, Accrington, said: "Chris Waddle was a better footballer than a manager. There have been a lot of problems at the club and that can't have helped. "I used to be Burnley fan, but now footballers are overpaid and don't put in the effort. I would rather watch the kids play in the park because they give 100 per cent."

Blackburn Rovers fan Michael Mercer, of Water Street, Accrington, said: "It is not a great surprise. Waddle did not get his team together and did not have enough good players.

"I actually had a £20 bet they would go down and am surprised they didn't."

James Westell, of Broadfield Road, Accrington, said: "It is a shock. I think he was under a lot of pressure and I think Burnley could be in a bit of trouble now."

Burnley supporter Mark Lonsdale, of Birch Terrace, Baxenden, said: "He has not had the support. He has had too much grief and not enough money to get the right players."

Brian Sutcliffe, who runs Broadway Cards and News, Accrington, said: "After the season they have had it is hardly surprising. It is not a success just to avoid relegation.

"I wonder if he has resigned or been forced out. They said it was by mutual agreement." Alan Rosewarne, who runs Wilson's fruit and vegetable shop, Broadway, Accrington, said: "I thought he might go, but then they managed to stay up. I think his successor will depend on the takeover."

Roger Jepson, of Banbury Close, Accrington, said: "I don't think he was experienced enough and maybe the pressure got to him."

John Lord, of Church Street, Hapton, said: "When someone takes on a job as manager you would expect him to stay longer than a season. I thought he might have stayed another year just to get the club back in the running."

Butcher Neil Sledding, of Prairie Crescent, called for a return for Adrian Heath. He said: "He did a great job while he was here and he will have learned a lot in his year at Everton. "I think he would do the business for Burnley. As for Chris Waddle, I am not sorry to see him go.

"At the end of the day I think the pressure got to him. We need a manager with experience."

Season ticket holder John Gorton, of Albert Street, Burnley, said the take-over turmoil surrounding the club should be settled before any managerial appointment is made. John, 38, said: "It would be crazy putting in a new man now only to find he was not the choice of whoever eventually buys the club."

Mother-of-two Bernadette Pickles, of Talbot Drive, has been a home match regular in what has been a disappointing first season for her.

"Experience is what will count in future," she said. "This past season has been a nerve-shattering experience and I don't think Chris Waddle was right for Burnley.

"He did not have any rapport with the fans and didn't seem to enjoy his time at Burnley. "We need someone with enthusiasm for both the club and the town."

Councillor Harry Brooks, a lifelong supporter and shareholder, said: "I think he failed. He brought in players at fair expense who were not a success and was for much of the season picking the wrong side."

Coun Brooks believes the manager's job should go to a manager with experience and success in the lower divisions.

He suggested ex-Clarets Stan Ternent and Wrexham's Brian Flynn and added: "Both have achieved a lot with very little money and their record of success is there for all to see."

Andrew Heys, of Briercliffe Road, Burnley agrees: "We couldn't get much better than Flynn.

"He has strong links with the town and would bring both experience and a new enthusiasm to Burnley."

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