CLARETS: My Turf Moor nightmare is over - Gentile

Gentile has signed a one and a half year deal with FC Volendam and played in last night's Dutch First Division fixture against his old club MVV Maastricht.

But speaking exclusively to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph from the Netherlands, Gentile was still sore over his treatment at Turf Moor.

"The whole experience has proved a terrible disappointment and I'm very sad at how things have worked out," he observed.

"When I signed for Adrian Heath in the summer it was my great dream to play football in England and I knew I'd signed for a good club.

"However, I soon knew I had walked into a difficult situation because Chris Waddle didn't have me in his plans and that dream was shattered overnight.

"To be honest I don't think he ever gave me a chance at Burnley and that is the strangest thing of all.

"I find that completely unbelievable for a player of my experience and somebody who was desperate to do so well for Burnley.

"I could have understood it a bit more if he had given me four or five games to prove myself and then he could have made his mind up, one way or the other.

"I would have accepted Waddle's decision then.

"But that never happened and he just said you are not my type of player. "I'd given up a big contract with Burnley and by that I mean a lot of money.

"Burnley have only paid me a tiny fee in compensation and I'm not at all happy with what they've given me.

"But I knew there was no chance of playing for Burnley under Waddle so I've decided to go along with it and make a fresh start back in Holland.

"Volendam have offered me a new contract, with the option of another year if things work out.

"I didn't have any choice really because at 29 I need to be playing first team football.

"I was not even getting a reserve team game at Burnley which was totally soul destroying for a professional.

"I came to Burnley in good faith, bringing my family over to England, but it was just destined never to work out.

"I've enjoyed training with Burnley - but I reckon all the good players are either in the reserves or on the transfer list.

"What happened at Burnley is history for me now and I want to get on with my career again in Holland."

Meanwhile, as the fallout over the Gentile transfer continued, Burnley have angrily denied that a slice of the £80,000 transfer from Davis Eyres' sale to Preston North End has been used to pay off Gentile's lucrative three-year deal.

"That is simply not true and Marco has waived his contract with us," explained Clarets player-manager Waddle. "Marco didn't feature in my first team plans and when the opportunity came up for him to return to the Netherlands it was the best solution for both parties.

"Marco plays as a man-to-man marker but we don't play like that."

Gentile arrived at Turf Moor under the Bosman ruling in July. He was Adrian Heath's last signing.

But it was soon clear the Dutchman would play no part in Waddle's plans and was transfer-listed eight weeks later.

Gentile played only one senior game for the Clarets - a Coca-Cola Cup tie at Stoke City.

Meanwhile, striker Ian Helliwell has joined Third Division strugglers Doncaster Rovers on loan.

Helliwell has not featured for the Clarets this season and the loan could lead to a permanent deal if Doncaster's future as a Football League club is assured with a Belle Vue takeover imminent.

Waddle added: "Ian is a good professional but he is not in my plans.

"Doncaster have taken him for a month and we'll see how it goes from there.

"Danny Bergara (current Doncaster manager) knows Ian well from his Stockport days so this is the connection for him."

Another player who could be on the move away from Turf Moor is central defender Mark Winstanley.

He was today linked with a move to Burnley's FA Cup opponents Rotherham United.

But Waddle added: "I've heard nothing about that one. They've made no approach to me."

Paul Smith played for an hour of last night's Pontins League Cup defeat against Oldham Athletic at Stalybridge Celtic.

The fixture was switched to the non-League club at the last minute with a strong Clarets side going down 2-1. Phil Eastwood scored Burnley's goal.

Burnley have sold ALL their allocation of tickets for Saturday's derby match at Blackpool.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.