The Burnley manager search development that bodes well for Bristol Rovers

Burnley are to push ahead with wanting to appoint Vincent Kompany which will likely put to an end any rumours linking Bristol Rovers boss Joey Barton.

The Clarets were relegated after finishing 18th on the final day of the season, losing 2-1 to Newcastle United whilst Leeds United beat Brentford.

Relegation took place under the stewardship of caretaker manager Mike Jackson, who managed eight games after taking over from Sean Dyche.

The Athletic has now reported that former Manchester City defender Kompany is the favourite to take charge of the Turf Moore hot seat.

Kompany is in talks with the Lancashire club about becoming their first permanent manager since the sacking of long-serving Dyche who was at the club for ten years.

Despite playing in the Championship next season, the Belgian is up for the challenge of taking them back up to the Premier League.

There is a three-man shortlist for the post but only Kompany’s identity has been made public by the Athletic with the identities of the other two unknown.

The development that Kompany is the front runner will be music to the ears of Gas fans after at one point, Barton was the odds-on favourite for the role.

He is second favourite to Kompany and then there is Middlesbrough boss Chris Wilder with Kjetil Knutsen now becoming distant from the role.

Having been a part of the Burnley side that won the Championship in 2016 and three times winning promotion as a player, Barton could have been seen as a good candidate to take the club forward.

But Barton himself already dismissed himself from taking over at the club he had two spells at as a player with one of the main reasons being how early it is in his managerial career.

The 39-year-old said he wouldn’t want to be ‘anywhere’ else right now in this moment of his career, highlighting the relationship he has with owner Wael al-Qadi.

"I’ve loved every minute of it,” when asked by Geoff Twentyman on BBC Radio Bristol about the speculation.

"I’ve seen that everybody texts you when the betting market changes, but I am fortunate to have an owner who has given me incredible support. I will forever be grateful to the support he has given me.

"He’s somebody who has got enormous ambition for the club and we’ve lived in the city now for the best part of 15 or 16 months. We have felt the energy off the fanbase and I don’t want to be anywhere else.

"I’m still learning. I’m four years in now but that’s my first promotion as a coach. I don’t want to be at the top before I feel I’ve got the skill set to be able to handle it.

“It’s incredibly difficult up there and I think I’m learning nicely in my job. Hopefully, with Bristol Rovers going forward, we can grow together.”