Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan believes selling Chris Wood to Newcastle United has ultimately cost Burnley their place in the Premier League. In January, the Magpies were desperate for a striker after firing a blank during their shock FA Cup exit to Cambridge.
A lengthy injury to first-choice Callum Wilson forced United into the transfer market for a new striker. With little time to waste, the Saudi-backed consortium triggered a £25million release clause to snatch Wood from their relegation rivals.
Burnley quickly moved to replace the New Zealand international by signing Wout Weghorst for half the price. However, the former Wolfsburg man has struggled since his arrival - bagging just one goal.
The Clarets sit four points adrift from top-flight survival and made the shock decision to sack long-serving manager Sean Dyche on Friday morning. Jordan thinks their fate was sealed when Wood left to join Newcastle three months ago.
“I think they have already accepted relegation by selling Chris Wood,” he told talkSPORT. “I think they planned for it. They realised selling Wood was going to get £25million upfront from Newcastle and, ultimately, they took it. They did a staged deal on the guy they brought in, and it got some cash flow out of it.
“I never like giving someone too much influence in a football club, because then you are constantly beholden to them. But this man, Dyche, was the glue that helped keep Burnley in the Premier League, with a group of players that are ragtag and bobtail. He kept them there. To take him out now, at the 11th hour, makes no sense.”
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