Then Burnley manager Sean Dyche gestures on the touchline on October 23, 2021 in Southampton, England. Photo: VCG

English Premier League side Burnley began life without Sean Dyche with a 1-1 draw against West Ham United, earning a valuable point in their hopes of staying in the top flight.

Burnley took the nuclear option in sacking, who had been at the club for 3,451 days dating back to 2012 and was the longest-serving manager in the English Premier League.

The decision came with eight games of the season left - before the trip to East London - and the Clarets four points off safety.

"Firstly, we would like to place on record our sincere thanks to Sean and his staff for their achievements at the club over the last decade," Burnley Chairman Alan Pace said in a statement announcing Dyche's sacking.

"During his time at Turf Moor, Sean has been a credit both on and off the pitch, respected by players, staff, supporters, and the wider football community.

"However, results this season have been ­disappointing and, while this was an incredibly difficult decision, with eight crucial games of the campaign remaining, we feel a change is needed to give the squad the best possible chance of retaining its Premier League status."

It's a decision that several other clubs have taken this season. 

Xisco Munoz, Steve Bruce, Nuno Espirito Santo, Daniel Farke, Dean Smith, Solskjaer, Rafa Benitez, Claudio Ranieri and Marcelo Bielsa were all sacked by English Premier League clubs this season - and some of those managers have been linked with taking over from Dyche full time.

Dyche has been linked with a swift return to management, too, though many believe he should not have been sacked by Burnley.

Chief among them were Dyche's former counterparts in the English Premier League dugout.

"I am massively surprised. I don't know what happened behind the scenes but looking from the outside and as a Brentford head coach, there are a lot of things we can learn from a club like Burnley," said Brentford boss Thomas Frank.

"They were promoted, relegated and then promoted again and they have been here six or seven years in the Premier League. It is remarkable what they have done.

"I think Sean Dyche deserves a lot of credit and they should build a statue of him outside Turf Moor because what he has done is incredible.

"Every season, going into the Premier League with ­probably bottom three or ­bottom four budget and then still being able to compete and not just survive, but get at least a couple of top 10 places is a fantastic, remarkable job.

"Looking from the outside, I think they would have had a better chance keeping him to survive because he knows ­everything. But of course, I don't know everything."

Brighton & Hove Albion boss Graham Potter was resigned that these things happen.

"I feel for a colleague, someone who I have a lot of respect for. It is never nice when someone loses their job of course, but we know these things happen in football," Potter said.

"I don't think he'll be out of work for long because the job he did at Burnley was fantastic. I think it is part of life. Sean is a big guy, he knows how it is.

"The reality is there are more people to feel sorry for than Premier League managers but there is a pressure, an expectation. Sometimes it is fair, sometimes it is unfair - it goes with the territory. We know that when we go into it," Potter added.

"We know when results don't go well you are under pressure, you have got scrutiny. But it is part of the thing you sign up for and you have to deal with it."

Roy Hodgson, who took over as Watford boss earlier this season as they attempt to stave off relegation, expressed his shock.

"Of all the people in the league, he would have been one of the ones I would have thought most likely to survive anything like this, so I have no idea what has happened.

"Something must have happened because you don't part company with a manager like Sean Dyche after all the fantastic things he has done for that club over the last 10 years - he has built the club.

"I didn't think that something like this would happen to him."

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was full of praise for Dyche.

"I only have words of praise because what he has done at the club over the last 10 years is phenomenal," the Spaniard said.

"He gave the club a really clear identity, he has managed to keep the team, with one of the smallest budgets, ­consistently in the league. I wish him the best of luck and as always with colleagues, it is sad when you see those decisions."

David Moyes, who oversaw a 1-1 draw against Burnley last weekend, was also shocked.

"I am shocked and a little bit surprised as well. I think Sean has done such a great job and established Burnley in the Premier League over many years," the West Ham boss said.

"Over recent times, Burnley have been a very difficult team to play against and most of that has been done by Sean."

Patrick Vieira, one of the newest bosses in the English top flight, having taken over at Crystal Palace last summer, was also surprised.

"It was quite surprising. There is no doubt about the work he has been doing at Burnley in the last 10 years, but this is the industry we are living in," the Frenchman said.

Fans and pundits were as surprised as Dyche's former counterparts, but the decision will be judged on one thing, whether Burnley can survive the drop.