FOUR clubs are so far in the hunt for released Clarets striker Kevin Henderson.

Darlington and Torquay have joined Halifax and Third Division play-off finalists Scunthorpe in expressing an interest in the 24-year-old, who was one of 12 players handed free transfers by Clarets boss Stan Ternent at the end of the season.

Henderson only became a professional player 18 months ago when Chris Waddle signed him from Morpeth Town after a prolific spell with the Northern League club.

And he is determined to further his Football League career.

"I have had a couple of clubs contact me and it's certainly my intention to find somewhere else,"he confirmed.

"I know I am good enough to find another club, although there will be a lot of players out there. Otherwise come the end of June if nothing happens it will be back to the bank!" added Henderson, who quit his banking job in Newcastle to join the Clarets.

And despite the fact that he has been released at the end of his first contract, he still regards joining Burnley as the right decision.

"I made a lot of friends and it was a great experience for me so I have no regrets. I think this will have stood me in good stead.

"I have played at a higher level now and learned a lot. Once you've had a taste you want more, especially getting that first goal - that was nice.

"I thought it was never going to come, but once I got it I thought 'I can do it'."

Henderson never started a first-team game for Burnley but was a regular substitute under Waddle in the latter part of last season.

He scored his first goal for the club in an Auto Windscreens Shield tie against Carlisle last February.

And he finally broke his duck in the League this season when during a regular spell of substitute's duty, he came off the bench to equalise against Lincoln City just after Christmas.

Unfortunately for Henderson, who almost joined Scunthorpe on loan just prior to that, he then picked up the latest in a number of injuries that have held him back.

His chance of a first-team call in the absence of Andy Cooke therefore evaporated.

And with Cooke, Andy Payton, Ronnie Jepson, Peter Swan and Graham Branch always likely to be ahead of him in the pecking order, his release should improve Henderson's chance of making the breakthrough.

"I was half expecting it and I did want to move on anyway so I was not too disappointed when it happened, although I was a bit surprised that I didn't get offered anything," he added.

"I had a bad season with injuries but when I played around Christmas I thought I did quite well.

"But he knows what he's got and what he wants. I need to move on for first-team football and this has made my mind up for me. It might have been too easy for me stay on."

Meanwhile, Stan Ternent was back at his desk today after a short break in Portugal starting work on reshaping his squad for next season.

And the manager confirmed that he was speaking to midfielder Paul Cook about a possible permanent move to Turf Moor.

"I am in negotiations and trying to persuade him to come here," said Ternent.

Cook's club Stockport are prepared to let him go but the question of whether there would be a fee has not yet been approached.

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