Penny leaves Burnley

Last updated : 16 August 2010 By Tony Scholes
Diego Penny
Penny made just one league start for Burnley, at Sheffield Wednesday on the opening day of the 2008/09 season and added one substitute appearance in the Premier League game against Hull plus two appearances, one again from the bench, in the Carling Cup last season.

With the signing of Lee Grant he is out of the reckoning for the first team and the agreement has been made allowing him to return home to Peru.

Penny, now 26, cost Burnley around £400,000 when he arrived in the summer of 2008, and said today: "I will never forget Burnley because it was a great step up for me.

"I am sad I didn't play more times. I think in football the most important thing is playing regularly, but I tried to do my best every single day and Brian has been outstanding during my time with the club.

"It didn't happen for me, but I do think I pushed Brian to be the best he could and Burnley have benefited from that. Playing in the Premier League was superb and I was still happy here. I know I haven't played much, but I have a lot of friends in England and at Burnley, so I am sad to leave."

Penny confirmed that he'll soon be fixed up with a new club. "I am very close to signing for a Peruvian team for a year," he said. "But I still have ambitions of coming back to Europe very soon."