Michael Jackson admits Sean Dyche's sacking by Burnley on Friday came as a "shock".

Dyche was axed by chairman Alan Pace with Burnley 18th in the Premier League following a loss at Norwich last weekend.

The Clarets are four points from safety with eight matches of the season left to play, with under-23 coach Jackson tasked with preparing the players for Sunday's trip to West Ham.

He said: "I came in for the morning to prepare for the under-23s game and the chairman called me into his office and I was told about it then. I was told this is what's happening.

"It all came as a bit of a shock to be honest but it doesn't surprise me given the way football is. We have been told to prepare the lads for Sunday.

"It has come as a shock to the players, that's human nature. They are an experienced group, they've come together and now for us it's about the whole club coming together, all the fans, and just bunkering in and concentrating on what we need to do."

Praising the outgoing manager's decade at the club, Jackson said: 'He has built the club but built a culture, an identity, and that is really difficult to do in football sometimes.

"The job he has done, you only have to listen to some of the interviews with other managers and his peers, to know what they think of him.

"It is sad but they should be remembered for what they've done for this club. I'm sure the fans will remember that too."