Burnley have appointed Diego Lopez as their new chief football officer as he assesses candidates to become their next manager.Rob Edwards and Carlos Corberan are among the early contenders under consideration, though former West Brom and Valencia coach Corberan – who knows Lopez well – is understood to be waiting for a Premier League opportunity and has told him he is not interested in the position.Lopez, who was previously with Genoa, has been handed responsibility for football operations, recruitment and sporting structure and the immediate search for a new manager.Burnley parted company with manager Nicky Hayen following a damaging 4-1 defeat against Lincoln City on Saturday.Lopez, 37, joins with Burnley 22nd in the Championship after a poor start to the season in which they have won just one game in 12. They are without a win at home for over a year.Club chairman Alan Pace said: ‘We wanted someone with deep experience in recruitment and player development, a strong knowledge of European markets and a clear understanding of how those come together to strengthen a club over the long term. Diego has a proven record of exactly that.’ Burnley have appointed Diego Lopez as their chief football officer as they search for a manager Ex-Wolves and Luton Town boss Rob Edwards is among the favourites to replace Nicky HayenHayen won the Belgian title with Club Brugge in 2024 and was brought in by Pace during the summer with the hope of securing a swift return to the top flight.Former Wolves and Middlesbrough boss Edwards, 43, is the bookmakers’ favourite. He also earned promotion with Luton.Corberan, also 43, left Valencia in September and has previously coached Huddersfield as well as West Brom. But Daily Mail Sport understands he is only interested in Premier League jobs after coaching in La Liga and, despite links, is not speaking to Burnley today.Burnley are also exploring another option based abroad.Lopez, who was sport director at Lens and previously worked as a head scout at Monaco, Lille, Excelsior Mouscron and Bordeaux, said: ‘I am eager to start exploring the great potential of this club. I understand our mission and I believe in what Burnley can become in the coming years, if we all work in the same direction with full determination.’From my first conversations with Alan, it was clear there is real ambition here and a plan to match it.’