 |
| Cameron Stewart moves to Oakwell on loan |
Nothing, as yet, has involved any Burnley players past or present, but earlier this week there have been a couple of moves involving players who can list us as a former club.
The name John Cofie meant nothing to most Burnley supporters back in November 2007 until, out of the blue, we sold the then 14-year-old to Man United. I'd never seen him play but knew of him because there was an approach for Clarets Mad to help fund his stay locally a couple of years earlier, and I'd stood next to him on the touchline at a youth game one Saturday morning.
He was at Old Trafford for almost six years, once coming on as a substitute in an FA Youth Cup tie against us at the Turf, but he never made an appearance at first team level other than when out on loan at Royal Antwerp, Sheffield United and Notts County.
He was signed by Barnsley having been released at the end of the 2012/13 season, but didn't play any first team football during his season at Oakwell, and from there he moved to Norway to play with Molde.
Having left them at the end of their season, he's been without a club, and yesterday was snapped up on a short term deal by League One strugglers Crawley.
Manager Dean Saunders said: John was a free agent and he's a player I have been aware of for some time. He's got a lot of natural talent and he's been with us for a few days and has fitted in well.
"This is a new challenge for him back in England. I'm excited to be working with him and I'm convinced he can make an impression at this level. He gives us another option up front at a crucial stage of the season."
Cofie could make his debut for Crawley this weekend against Gillingham but that will be dependent on them receiving international clearance in time.
I've always wondered what might have happened in his career had he and his family not had their heads turned by the big clubs back in 2007. I know how highly he was rated by then manager Steve Cotterill and even more so by the youth staff at the time.
At the end of August 2012, Eddie Howe made his last Burnley signing with the loan capture of Cameron Stewart from Hull to run until January. The deal done was similar to the one we'd done with the signing of Joseph Mills in that a permanent deal had been agreed beyond the loan, although this one was very much dependent on the player wanting to continue his career at Turf Moor.
He made his debut on the following day in a 3-1 home defeat against Brighton but started just one more game whilst making seven further substitute appearances. When he came on for Brian Stock in the 4-0 defeat at Cardiff in what was Terry Pashley's last game in charge, he was making his last Burnley appearance and at the end of his loan he returned to Hull.
A loan at Blackburn followed, and we can all recall his badge kissing exercise when they grabbed that stoppage time offside equaliser, and last season he had loans with Charlton and Leeds, the latter with a guaranteed three year contract to follow from the start of this season.
Leeds were able to pull out of that deal and, at the beginning of July he signed a three year contract with Ipswich. He's failed to break into their league team and is still awaiting his league debut for the Tractor Boys; his only appearances have been as substitute in two FA Cup ties amounting to just over half an hour.
Last Saturday morning, a loan deal was rushed through to take him to Barnsley for the remainder of the season, a loan that can be extended to include the play-offs should that be required. He made his Barnsley debut in their home game against Preston that afternoon, playing the first 73 minutes before being replace by Dale Jennings.
Finally, Richard Chaplow's month on loan at Ipswich has come to an end. He's done well for them and scored their late winner at Watford last Saturday. Today, Ipswich have confirmed that Chappy will remain with them until the end of the season and again, like the Stewart deal to Barnsley, will cover the play-offs should Ipswich finish in the top six in the Championship.