FORMER Burnley star Ian Britton has been sacked as player-manager of North West Counties League side Nelson. The club decided at a board meeting this week not to retain Britton next season after Nelson finished the last campaign 13th in Division Two.

Britton, who scored one of the goals that kept Burnley in the Football League in 1987, had been at Victoria Park for four years. Long-serving player John Bailey has been named as the new manager.

Britton said he had been shocked and disappointed by the decision which he said had come out of the blue.

Nelson won only one of their last 13 games to slip away from the promotion picture but Britton felt that with the resources available during the run-in it had been a respectable finish.

The Scot, who made 138 appearances for the Clarets before being released in 1989, said: "I could understand if we had been fighting against relegation or near the bottom all season but under the circumstances I thought we finished up quite well.

"We had nine first-team players out at one time which makes it difficult. We showed at the start of the season when we had a full squad that we could be right up there but when the injuries and suspensions took their toll we faded away a little bit."

Britton, who previously guided Bank Hall to NWCFL level, was planning to bring in a couple of experienced midfield players during the summer but is now looking for a new position.

"Hopefully something will crop up in the near future. I would like to stay in the game as manager or some capacity," he added.

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