It is with a heavy heart that one advances the opinion that someone should lose their job.

Brian Laws is a Claret. He is also clearly a decent man. And nobody would challenge the view that he wants anything but success for Burnley Football Club.

But it’s just not working. To invoke the ghost of Stan Ternent: “It’s nothing personal. It’s business.”

Taking over the reins from the club’s most successful manager for a generation was always going to be a poisoned chalice for whoever took it on. And while one has a degree of sympathy for Laws in that respect, he never really rose to the challenge.

The brakes were applied to the fluent and attractive pass and move game introduced under Owen Coyle, unimpressive and costly additions were made in the January transfer window and while it may be wrong to claim relegation was accepted, Burnley disappeared with a whimper rather than a bang.

Backed in the summer, Laws’ had an opportunity to bring in his own men and mould his own team. Sadly, both the signings and the campaign have been hit and miss. And at no point has one ever felt that we were witnessing a genuine promotion push.

Having surrendered a two-goal advantage to an ordinary Leeds side, things hit a new low. And not just on the pitch. Laying responsibility for the defeat at the door of the players was not only poor leadership, but also sounded like a manager running out of excuses and hiding places.

His startling contention that his charges didn’t follow his instructions was sufficient reason alone to set alarm-bells ringing.

After all, if they aren’t listening to Laws, then what is the point of him carrying on as their gaffer?

Most football chairmen could learn much from Barry Kilby about loyalty. It’s to his immense credit that he has stood by all his appointments. And as with Stan Ternent, Steve Cotterill and Owen Coyle, Kilby has bent over backwards to support Laws.

Yet surely even he must now concede that with the current manager, a return to the Premier League is but a pipe dream.

The time to act is now. The Clarets are still well-placed for a play-off push, funds are available and there is enough talent already at the club.

With all due respect to Brian, it’s time to write a new chapter at Turf Moor.