Burnley in trouble as pressure grows on Scott Parker

Burnley panic stations Scott Parker — captured the mood around Turf Moor this week, as the club’s grim Premier League form continued with a damaging 3-2 home defeat to Fulham. With just one win from their last eight matches and a defence leaking goals at an alarming rate, Burnley look increasingly vulnerable in a relegation battle that is beginning to tighten around them.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, respected former Manchester United and Blackburn scout Mick Brown delivered a bleak assessment of Scott Parker’s situation, arguing that the Burnley boss is struggling to get a tune out of his squad and warning that the club are now at serious risk of going down. His words carry weight; Brown worked alongside Sir Alex Ferguson for more than a decade and understands the early warning signs of a team in freefall.

Burnley entered the campaign knowing survival would be a challenge, but few expected results to unravel this quickly. Twelve losses in sixteen matches, the Premier League’s second-worst defensive record, and an alarming inability to grind out draws have combined to create a worrying trend: Burnley don’t just lose — they collapse in key moments. And with Turf Moor no longer the fortress it once was, pressure has intensified on Parker, whose job security is now under serious scrutiny heading into the new year.

Their Championship success was built on compactness, structure and collective discipline. This season, those traits have been inconsistent. Burnley often sit deep but lack the intensity needed to defend effectively. When they press high, they leave exploitable gaps. When they sit off, they concede territory and get punished by superior Premier League finishers.

Although some analysts argue Parker needs more time to embed his ideas, it’s worth questioning whether the current squad matches the manager’s tactical preferences. In multiple matches, Burnley have appeared caught between approaches — neither committed to aggressive pressing nor capable of sustained deep defending.

In our view, Burnley’s biggest issue is mentality. Confidence has evaporated, and the pattern of conceding “daft goals,” as Brown described, has become self-fulfilling. Teams sense Burnley’s vulnerability and push harder late in games, knowing the Clarets struggle to protect leads or manage pressure.

In October, Football Insider reported Burnley had no intention of sacking Parker despite early concerns. But each passing week has reshaped the mood. Defeat to Fulham, combined with rivals around them collecting points, pushed Burnley deeper into trouble and narrowed what little margin Parker had.

Brown believes the club may be forced into a decision if results don’t improve before January:

Behind the scenes, Burnley are already assessing possible replacements should they need to act quickly. That alone signals the seriousness of the situation.

“Panic stations” isn’t just a phrase. It describes a club preparing contingency plans: scouting replacement managers, reviewing January targets, and examining whether drastic measures can salvage the campaign. Burnley have reached that threshold. If Parker cannot stabilize results before the new year, the decision may be taken out of his hands.

Burnley travel to Bournemouth on 20 Decembercott , a match that may define Parker’s future. Lose again, and the club may trigger the changes already being prepared behind the scenes.

👉 Burnley fans — should Parker be backed through January, or has the situation already gone too far?