Aaron McLean and Adam Virgo have urged Burnley to consider Dave Challinor as Nicky Hayen’s replacement as they seek a new manager.

The Clarets have had a miserable season thus far, sitting in the relegation zone after 12 games and winning only once.

As a result, Hayen was under heightened scrutiny, and Burnley’s 4-1 defeat against Lincoln City on Saturday, after taking the lead, made his departure seem imminent, with confirmation of his dismissal arriving on Saturday night.

Burnley is told to consider Dave Challinor amid Sheffield Wednesday interest.

The focus now is on who will succeed the former Club Brugge manager, and Alan Pace and incoming Chief Football Officer Diego Lopez are under pressure to make the correct decision.

A number of names will be connected with the post, including Rob Edwards and Steven Gerrard, who are reportedly on Burnley’s radar.

Challinor has not yet been mentioned, but Sheffield Wednesday are reportedly interested in the 51-year-old, who is unemployed since leaving Stockport County in the summer.

And, on the Inside the 72 podcast, commentator Aaron McLean stated unequivocally that Challinor is Burnley’s standout candidate.

“I was searching through the names that had been linked, and his name stood out to me. I think he did an amazing job at Stockport.

“He led Hartlepool to promotion from the National League. He dropped them from League Two back to the National League, while promoting Stockport to League One.

“Every season, his club is competitive, and I don’t think he finishes outside the playoffs. Then, last season, he called it quits because he is waiting for that opportunity now, and he believes he is ready to take the next step that he was unable to do with Stockport.

“So, 100% he would be the first name I reach for if I was at a club like Burnley.”

That perspective was shared by Adam Virgo, another ex-professional turned pundit, who stated why he believes Challinor is ready for a role in the second tier.

“When you compare his work, CV, awards, and creations to everything else out there. If a League Two or League One player scored goals, he would be promoted to the Championship. So I don’t understand why he should be passed over for someone like Rob Edwards or anyone from abroad. He would bring out the best in them (the Burnley players).

Dave Challinor would be a daring appointment for Burnley.

Most would agree that Challinor’s record of work suggests he is ready to face a Championship club, therefore it would be a triumph for Wednesday if they could persuade him to return to League One.

However, this does not guaranty Challinor’s success at Turf Moor, and there are obvious reasons why he would be a dangerous pick, despite what the pundits believe.

To begin with, Hayen appeared to be a good fit. He won the Belgian League with Club Brugge and managed in the Champions League. He also worked his way up and put in the necessary effort to reach that level.

As a result, the problems at Burnley appear to be deeper, and Challinor may not be the best fit for Turf Moor’s dysfunctional environment.

His success at Stockport was not solely down to his considerable managerial abilities, but they had a solid framework in place and an owner who trusted him.

With Burnley, there is a sense that player power rules the dressing room; would Challinor have the authority to deal with those guys if Hayen couldn’t?

Furthermore, the fact that he has never managed above League One would be a concern, as Burnley require someone to hit the ground running, or another relegation may be on the horizon.

That’s not to say he wouldn’t work, but Sheffield Wednesday may be a better fit for Challinor right now, so it’ll be fascinating to watch how things shake out.