The abuse Alan Pace is getting from sections of the Burnley support is becoming embarrassing.
Yes, Burnley are bottom of the Championship. Yes, five league games without a win is dreadful for a club that came down from the Premier League expecting to challenge for promotion. And yes, losing 2-1 at home to Bristol City after taking the lead — with two late goals turning Turf Moor toxic — deserves serious criticism.
But screaming abuse at Pace as though he has spent his time at Burnley dismantling the club is ridiculous.
This is the same ownership that has backed managers, spent money on players and tried to establish Burnley as something more ambitious than a club bouncing between divisions. That strategy has not always worked. Recruitment has been poor, managerial decisions can be questioned and relegation last season was failure. Nobody should pretend otherwise.
The same man who gave us that memorable 2022/2023 season, the double over Blackburn rovers, The Man who gave us arguably the best season in club history
But football ownership is not judged by finding one man to blame every time results turn bad.
Pace appointed Nicky Hayen in July and the new manager has barely had time to establish himself. Burnley continued investing in the squad this summer, including the deadline-day signing of Reo Hatate from Celtic. Five Championship games are nowhere near enough evidence to declare the entire project dead.
Some supporters need to decide what they want. They demand ambition, spending and change, then howl for somebody’s head when those decisions carry risk and results are not immediate.
The personal vitriol aimed at the chairman is pathetic.
Support the club, scrutinise the ownership and demand better. That is what supporters should do.
Turning Alan Pace into a pantomime villain because Burnley have started badly is not passion. It is lazy scapegoating.
We are meant to be supporters, back the lads, back the squad and we will come back better!