Gudjonsson suspended as Burnley probe Laws comments

Burnley chief executive Paul Fletcher has hit back at comments allegedly made by Clarets midfielder Joey Gudjonsson by insisting the dressing room at Turf Moor is "totally united."

Burnley yesterday announced the suspension of Gudjonsson for two weeks pending a full investigation after he was quoted on an Icelandic website questioning the team's spirit under manager Brian Laws ahead of Saturday's 4-1 victory at Hull.

That victory was only the second Laws has overseen in 14 Barclays Premier League games since his appointment in January, a sequence that has left the Clarets in 18th place, four points from safety with just four games remaining.

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The former Sheffield Wednesday boss had to endure speculation that his job was under threat in the build-up to the game at the KC Stadium and dismissed rumours that he had fallen out with various members of his squad.

But the result – Burnley's first win away from home in the league this season – has given the team's survival hopes a timely boost and Fletcher is adamant the players are all pulling in the same direction.

"It is totally united," Fletcher said.

"You get these comments saying that the manager has lost the dressing room, but this is just par for the course with clubs toward the foot of the table.

"There is no loss of unity and Brian Laws did a fantastic job on Saturday to get what no other manager at this club has done – an away (win) in the Premier League."

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Gudjonsson, who attended an internal disciplinary hearing yesterday, was reported to have told fotbolti.net: "He (Laws) lost the dressing room long ago.

"I think all the players have lost faith in him, the performances say all that has to be said."

Prior to the Hull match, the Clarets slumped to a humiliating 6-1 defeat at home against Manchester City. With reference to the City game, Gudjonsson was quoted as saying: "This shows that the guys do not believe in what he is doing."

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