GIVEN the uncertain nature of professional football at the moment, a former Clarets striker is urging players to look beyond a life in the game.

Winston White played more than 400 League games in a career that spanned 13 clubs over 17 years.

He played for the Clarets between 1988 and 1991 before making a transfer deadline day move to West Brom.

But having left the game a couple of years later he did a degree in business and leisure management and is now the UK manager for Life Fitness, the country's largest providers of gym equipment.

"When I left the game I put a lot of pressure on myself to do something new with my life," he explained. "I wanted to get back to basics and re-invent myself and that is why I did a quite broad degree that I hoped would open up a number of different doors for me.

"Football is a world where it is easy for people to cocoon themselves and not think about what is going on in the world in general but the way the game is today I think players will have to look outside more.

"It is important that the young players today learn about life as a whole and not just football.

"I can't complain because I had a career with over 400 League games but I wish I had taken more time to learn things while I was playing.

"Being a footballer does offer you the chance to find something that interests you and do something about it. It doesn't have to be academic, it might be anything but players should try to broaden their minds.

"I think Tony Adams is setting a great example to young players by going off to study and the opportunities are there. All players have to do is go out and take them.

"My advice would be to do something that would be an extension of their interests. I was always keen on anatomy and physiology and so my current job is great."

Despite his job football remains his first love and he is still involved in the game as a statistics recorder for the Press Association. He was at Molineux last week to see the Clarets in action and hopes to see them again in October when they take on his first club Leicester City.

"The spell at Burnley was one of the best of my career," admitted the 43-year-old. "I really enjoyed it, I thought I played well and it got me one of my best moves.

"Burnley were in the bottom division at the time and I always thought I had more in me and I will always be grateful to the club for letting me go.

"I think we were fifth or sixth when I left and in with a chance of promotion but Frank Casper was very good to me and gave me the chance to go to West Brom.

"I know I played at a lot of clubs but I was not always asking for transfers. I liked to be in different places and I only played at clubs where I felt comfortable and I certainly felt comfortable at Turf Moor.

"Back then it also seemed as if football was played in a more relaxed environment whereas now it is very much a business."

Business is now White's life and he travels thousands of miles each year in his job. But Saturday is still his football day and he remains grateful for that.