JAMIE Hoyland has been released by Burnley - despite receiving a letter telling him to report for pre-season training next week!

The 32-year-old defender is now left desperately searching for a new club, as he will be paid only until the end of this month.

And he said he was disillusioned and bitterly disappointed about the manner of his exit from Turf Moor.

The letter, apparently, was sent out in error from the secretary's office and Hoyland's release was confirmed to the player yesterday.

Like goalkeeper Chris Woods, Hoyland had originally been told he would be offered a 12-month deal by the former management regime.

But a lot of things have already changed since Chris Waddle left and Stan Ternent took over.

Hoyland had talks with the new boss before Ternent went on holiday, realised there was to be no new contract and that he was being freed - only for hopes to be raised again by the letter.

"I had been interested in doing the reserve job with Gordon Cowans going.

"To have a chance of that they wanted me to stop playing and I couldn't afford to do that.

"Then, last week, I got a letter to report back for pre-season training.

"But I got a telephone call from Sam Ellis yesterday to confirm the situation was unchanged, I had been released and that the letter was a mistake.

"I am bitterly disappointed. I thought there might be a chance of working on the staff in some capacity as well as playing because that is what I want to do.

"I thought they could have given me a token contract. But Stan's quite happy to get rid of me.

"Now I am looking for a job. "You have a month when they still pay your wages, then you start to panic.

"It has all left me a bit disillusioned and with a bad taste, after 16 or 17 years in the game, always giving 100 per cent."

Hoyland is now anxious to find another club quickly, especially with most players reporting back for pre-season training over the next couple of weeks. "That's another problem," he said.

"I have nowhere to train. It looks as though I'll be doing a lot of running around the Peak District."

Hoyland has spoken to Sammy McIlroy at Macclesfield and has also been in touch with Carlisle.

The Cumbrian club wanted to sign him after a loan spell at Brunton Park last season but baulked at paying a fee when Burnley put a price on his head.

There are so many players available at the moment, either having been released or under the Bosman ruling, clubs can pick and choose to a degree.

Second Division Wigan are to advertise for a new manager next week following the departure of John Deehan in joining Sheffield United as chief coach. Number two John Benson takes temporary charge at Springfield Park.

Rochdale have signed former Burnley central defender Mark Monington on a free transfer from Rotherham and former Wrexham player Scott Williams on a three-month conract.

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