Burnley have sacked manager Nicky Hayen after just 14 games in charge, with former Middlesbrough boss Rob Edwards linked as a potential successor. The 42-year-old Belgian was dismissed following a 4-1 home defeat to Lincoln City that leaves the Clarets third from bottom of the Championship with only eight points from 12 games.

Hayen managed just one league win and one cup victory during his brief tenure at Turf Moor. Burnley confirmed his departure with immediate effect, calling the start to the season a disappointment. Former club captain Ben Mee was scathing in his assessment. "Absolute disaster today, going there and capitulating as they did," Mee said. The club's statement added that the search for a new manager is now underway.

Edwards among contenders

Rob Edwards, who left Middlesbrough to join Wolverhampton Wanderers last November, is understood to be among the candidates being considered. Edwards was approached about the role in the summer but turned it down before Burnley appointed Hayen. The former Wales defender was sacked by Wolves after failing to prevent their relegation from the Premier League. Other names linked to the vacancy include Steven Gerrard, Dave Challinor, Sean Dyche and Wales manager Craig Bellamy.

Hayen's dismissal throws the spotlight onto Middlesbrough's commanding position at the opposite end of the league table. Boro sit top of the Championship with 25 points from 12 games, a full 17 points ahead of the struggling Clarets. Michael Carrick's side are unbeaten in their last five matches, a run that includes last week's 5-1 demolition of Bolton Wanderers. Will Lankshear scored twice in that victory and leads the scoring charts with 11 goals this season. Middlesbrough's recent form of three wins and two draws from their last five games has solidified their place at the summit, where they hold a two-point lead over Swansea. The team has scored 27 goals and conceded 17 this season, giving them a goal difference of plus ten. Their last result was the 5-1 win at Bolton on Friday 23 October, a match in which Aidan Morris, Amario Cozier-Duberry and Will Lankshear, who scored twice, were on target. Prior to that, they drew 2-2 with Cardiff on Saturday 17 October, with Tommy Conway and Lankshear scoring.

Burnley are not scheduled to visit Teesside until late April, in what is pencilled in as Boro's third-from-last game of the campaign. Burnley's next match is at home to Plymouth Argyle.

More detail at Teesside Live