Good and bad news for ex-Clarets

Last updated : 22 May 2014 By Tony Scholes
Scottish Cup winner Brian Easton

Just over two weeks ago we released four players. We also reported the departures of Chris Eagles, Wade Elliott, Brian Jensen and Tyrone Mears from their respective clubs, and since a further six former Burnley players have been left looking for new clubs.

Three of those players are from the Steve Cotterill days at Turf Moor, two of them signed by him. Central defender Stephen Foster has seen his contract with relegated Tranmere terminated by mutual consent after just one year and Andy Gray, our leading goalscorer in both the 2006/07 and 2007/08 seasons, has been released by Bradford City, the club for whom he scored against us in both games in the 2002/03 season.

The third of those players is Neal Trotman who was an apprentice from 2003 to 2005. He's since gone on to make over 200 league appearances for a number of clubs, the last of which was Plymouth. He started all but five of their games last season but has now been released after one year at the club.

Two Eddie Howe signings for Burnley have also said goodbye to their clubs. Nathan Delfouneso, an early loan signing for Howe, has been released by Villa and George Porter has left Rochdale.

Delfouneso, now aged 23, started only four league games for Villa whilst making 40 more starts in loans at Burnley, Leicester, Blackpool and, more recently, Coventry.

Porter had his contract terminated at Burnley in January and immediately signed for Rochdale. He wasn't able to break into their promotion chasing team and made just two appearances, one start and one as a substitute.

The last of the six is Leon Cort. A Brian Laws signing in January 2010, he was never a popular player at Turf Moor and by the following season was out on loan at Preston. A further loan at Charlton saw him sign for them permanently but today he's received news that he is to be released by Belgian owned club who just survived relegation from the Championship.

It's not all bad news though. Despite suffering a serious knee injury that has kept him out since February, there's a new deal for Zavon Hines at Dagenham & Redbridge. He'd done well for the League Two side before his season came to an abrupt halt with the second ruptured anterior ligament injury of his career.

It was a well done to both Brian Easton and Chris Iwelumo last weekend as they picked up Scottish Cup winners medals with St. Johnstone. Big Sheena played the full game whilst Big Chris was an unused substitute.

Worthy of mention. Kevin McDonald was named player of the year at Wolves, following up on his third place finish in the League One Player of the Year, and former goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly was named Lion of the Year at TSV 1860 München in what has been his fifth season with the 2. Bundesliga club.

And finally, this weekend's play offs. It's Lee Grant v Charlie Austin in the Championship, Marvin Bartley is involved in League one and we've got Alex MacDonald and Dominic Knowles v Graham Alexander and Stephen Jordan in League Two.