Burnley head coach Nicky Hayen concedes his job is by no means guaranteed amid the Claretsâ sorry start to the season.
Eight games into the Championship campaign, Burnley have still yet to win and find themselves propping up the table.
Burnley so close to first win
It had looked like they would finally get up and running on Saturday as they led Derby for almost an hour â only to concede a stoppage-time equaliser and have to settle for a 1-1 draw.
The result leaves Burnley as one of only two teams in the whole EFL still without a league win in 2026/27.
And Hayen is well aware of âhow things goâ when teams are struggling as Burnley are right now.
Hayen âunderstands fansâ frustrationâ
Asked by former Sunderland and England defender Micky Gray if he thought he would get time to turn the ship around, Hayen told talkSPORT: âI hope so. I donât know.
âI understand the frustration of the fans; I understand that theyâre really disappointed â also, in myself, that theyâre fuming. I completely understand and I know how it goes in football, butâ¦Iâm honest and I tell the truth and Iâm not hiding behind it.
âThere are a lot of reasons [for Burnleyâs poor start to the season] and you take this into account or you donât, and thatâs up to other people to decideâ¦
âIf we have 11 players, everyone thinks theyâre fit and theyâre fresh and they go for [it] 100 per cent, but the reality sometimes is different and you only know when you are on the inside.
âBut I know I cannot claim a lot at the moment. I know that Iâm responsible for it and if they [the club] make the decision that itâs not good enough, then weâll see.
âButâ¦Iâm resilient; I was always a fighter. I will keep on fighting andâ¦Iâm 100 per cent sure that we can turn it around with these [next] three weeks, but weâll see what happens.â
Burnley looking to bounce back
Burnley will have been hoping to mount a push for immediate promotion back to the Premier League after being relegated last season.
But, having appointed Hayen â who led Brugge to the 2023/24 Belgian title â as their new head coach in July following Scott Parkerâs departure late last term, things have not gone to plan.
In fact, Burnley have yet to manage a victory in 90 minutes in any competition.
And itâs their previously resolute defence thatâs been the biggest issue so far: theyâve conceded a Championship-high 17 goals at an average of over two a game.
Burnleyâs sole triumph of the season so far came on penalties against Notts County in the first round of the Carabao Cup â before they were knocked out in the same way by another League One side, Bradford City, in the next round.
The Championship now hits pause until the second weekend of October for the newly extended international break.
Burnley resume their campaign away to Watford on Saturday before back-to-back home matches against Charlton and Wolves.