Burnley Under-23s: Michael Duff admits promotion came quicker than expected as he replaces Michael Jolley in charge of.

MICHAEL Duff admits his promotion to coach Burnley Under-23s came quicker than he expected.

The 39-year-old has been announced as Michael Jolley's successor after he left to take charge of AFC Eskilstuna in the top division in Sweden.

Duff will now lead the Clarets' Under-23 side into the Professional Development League after the Academy was granted Category Two status recently.

The former Burnley defender took charge of the Under-18s last season in his first year in coaching after hanging up his boots.

"It was a bit of a shock with Mike leaving to go and take a job in Sweden, so there was an opportunity to step up which the club have asked me to do and I’m happy to do," Duff said of taking charge of the Under-23s.

"It’s a nice progression into a new career and it probably happened a little bit quicker than I expected, but it’s a career path I want to take and I eventually want to end up managing, but I’m in a good place at the minute.

"I’m learning from a good manager, with the new category status at the Academy and going into the better games programme, playing against better players rather than just friendlies all the time.

"And there’s obviously some of the lads who I worked with last year moving up, so the continuity is good."

Duff, who began his new role on the Academy’s return to training on Monday, added: “I learned a lot last year about how to deal with other people and which (training) sessions work and which don’t.

“I really enjoyed it and it just seems to sit that the club have asked me to move up and I’m more than happy to do it, working with professional players and the different demands.”

The Academy's Category Two status will see the development squad face rivals teams in a regional division this season, ending the reliance on friendlies which had been in place in recent years.

And Duff feels that will provide another stepping stone towards the ultimate goal of progressing towards first team football.

"I think it’s good and I think it’s important because friendlies are friendlies and however much you can try and dress it up, the players see then as that," he said.

“Now, there are three points at stake so it’s a different pressure on the players and different expectations.

“Ultimately it’s still about development, but part of the development now is about learning how to win a game of football so they’ll get asked different questions.”

Duff will be assisted by Andy Farrell.