6. The Refusal To Take The Club Into Debt And Spend Money That Wasnt There
Of course it was frustrating that Burnley signed none of the first choice summer transfer targets. The plan was always to recruit players that would improve the squad, quality players of a high level. But Dyche made it clear in November that to have done so and signed just three of the first targets would have cost the club £20million and more, and this neither he nor club were prepared to do.
"Some of the numbers were unbelievable," he said. "Clubs were asking astronomical fees and this club decided it just couldnt do it. Spending £30million would probably ruin the club."
He came across players already on wages that exceeded those at Burnley. One of Dyches strengths is that he sees himself as a custodian: he sees one of his roles as preserving the integrity and financial stability of the club. He is determined to leave the club in a better state than when he found it, when the day comes that he does actually leave. When the SKY cameras came to Burnley you could see the pride and sense of accomplishment in Dyche when he pointed to the improvements at the Gawthorpe Training area and new pitches.
