Allen And Burnett On Football's Scrapheap

By: Richard Lord
Date: 04/08/2002

JUST seven days before the start of the new season, Bradley Allen and Wayne Burnett both find themselves searching desperately for new clubs after being released by Grimsby Town, reports the Sports Telegraph.

"I'm still looking for a club and I'm getting a bit worried. It's just not happening," revealed Burnett, who has trained with Oxford and Southend but neither club has made an offer for the midfielder.

"I'm not the only one in this situation and it looks very likely I'll be starting the season without a club," admitted the Golden Goalscorer of the Auto Windscreen's Shield just over four years ago.

"It's very worrying, but what can you do? I'm hopeful something will come up. I don't have any trades and I've no idea what I'll do if I have to give up. I'd love to stay in the game but it's becoming more and more unlikely.

"There are lads that have played in the Premiership and who have won honours who can't get a club - where does that leave me?" said Burnett, although Conference side Dagenham and Redbridge have shown an interest in the player.

For Bradley Allen, who partnered Mick Boulding up front for the Mariners last season and helped fire them to safety, the contemplation of retirement doesn't even bare thinking about.

"I can't allow myself to consider retirement from the professional game at 30," revealed the former England Under-21 international. "It might have been the case if I was two or three years older but surely not now."

Allen is still waiting on whether or not he has earned a contract at Second Division Peterborough, but he has already had trials at Bristol Rovers, Brighton and Oxford.

"Peterborough is the fourth club I've been to and it might turn into five or six. I'm desperate for a club, but chairmen and managers know that's the case after the ITV Digital decision and they've got you by the short and curlies.

"There's nothing you can do about it and they're just playing everybody off against each other. They'll just take whichever player will accept what they're offering. I sincerely hope that somewhere along the line I can get sorted out.

"I've been travelling around the country and have barely seen my wife and daughter for three or four weeks, but I don't have any other choice," concluded Allen.

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