Branch to remain a Claret

Last updated : 23 June 2003 By Tony Scholes

He will sign the deal today for a further two years and that will bring to an end any interest from the Burnley old boys collection at Rotherham or from his old club Tranmere Rovers.

Branchy has been with the Clarets for four and a half years now and only Paul Weller and Glen Little have been at the club longer. He was signed in time to make his debut against Walsall in the first match of 1999 alongside another new signing Steve Davis who had returned from Luton.

He was a left winger when we first signed him but he has found himself playing in a variety of positions. There was a spell partnering Andy Payton up front in the early Division One days but last season he was at left back almost all the way through until featuring in the centre of defence at the end as just about every defender cried off injured.

Not always a crowd favourite, he has in fact been hounded at times by the Turf Moor boo boys, he has been able to turn that round and but for Gareth Taylor would have found some player of the year awards coming his way this year. He did share one award with the Burnley striker.

He was one of only two players out of contract to be offered a new deal and with Driss Diallo moving to Ipswich he is the only one to commit further to the Clarets. That commitment will come today when he signs his new deal.