BURNLEY have transfer-listed SIX senior Turf Moor professionals, writes TONY DEWHURST.
And in a shock move, I understand Dutch defender Marco Gentile and highly-rated utility man Gerry Harrison are among the names.
The six on the list available for transfer are last season's skipper Nigel Gleghorn, defender Vince Overson, Ian Helliwell, Jamie Hoyland, Gentile and Harrison.
Neither Gentile or Harrison appear to be in Waddle's future plans, while Gleghorn has spent the season in the reserves, apart from a brief substitute appearance against Bristol Rovers.
Gentile was Adrian Heath's final signing under the Bosman ruling before the former manager quit Turf Moor for Everton in July.
While Gentile featured in Burnley's pre-season tour to Northern Ireland, he has not played any part in Burnley's Second Division campaign.
Harrison, meanwhile, missed the start of the season through injury, but he, too, appears to have played his last game for Burnley.
Jimmy Mullen initially brought Harrison in on trial in August 1994 before offering him a contract.
A year later he was transfer-listed by Mullen after a pre-season bust-up, but finally found his best form under Heath and was one of Burnley's finest performers last season before injury curtailed his season in February.
Player-manager Waddle said: "I've been at Burnley for two months now and I've had time to assess the strengths of the squad.
"I've come to a decision about who I want to keep and who can leave. I will want a fee for some of the players."
Meanwhile, Waddle has publicly backed his Burnley squad - despite another Division Two hitch. Burnley's slender 1-0 defeat at Chesterfield means the Clarets are the only team in the Nationwide League not to have scored a League goal.
That leaves Burnley bottom of Division Two nearly a month into the new campaign.
But Waddle was full of praise for Burnley's brave display at Saltergate after the Clarets dominated large chunks of the game and were unlucky not to claim a share of the spoils against a powerful Chesterfield side.
He declared: "Obviously I was disappointed that we did not get anything from the game, but overall I was very pleased with the display," he observed.
"People will look at the Division Two table this morning and say we are bottom of the League.
"But I know that we will not be anywhere near that position at the end of the season.
"In fact, I patted the players on the back after that performance because we played some excellent stuff.
"I could not fault their effort against a team who were second top before the match and reached the semi-final of the FA Cup last season.
"It is just the end product - hitting the net - which is causing us the problems. There is going to be one hell of a celebration when we score a goal, I can guarantee that." Waddle, though, was disappointed with Burnley's slack defending which led to Chesterfield's winner.
He added: "We looked like the home side at Chesterfield. We were camped in Chesterfield's half for long periods of the game.
"The biggest downer was the goal. It was a sloppy one to concede.
"But our luck in front of goal just doesn't seem to be in. Cookey hit the post and Mark Ford had a great chance in the first half.
"The ball is just not breaking for us but that will change. I'm not too disappointed
"The spirit of the side is exceptional and that is a crucial factor.
"I can understand the fans' frustration because we are not winning games, but that will change, I've no doubt about that.
"You could see their reaction when the final whistle went because they all stood up and applauded us. They knew we had given everything.
"We can still make a big challenge in this league. At the moment, though, it is all about scoring goals and winning a few games.
"If we were getting beat three of four every match, not creating and really looking a shambles, then the fans would let us know. But that is just not the case. "We've upset somebody along the road and our luck just doesn't seem to be in.
"But these things happen in football and I can assure the fans that we will bounce back."
Waddle handed a league debut to youngster Carl Smith, who replaced the player-manager as a 69th minute substitute.
"He is a promising kid who signed full professional terms with us last week.
"He did very well when he came on and will prove a valuable addition to the squad."
Burnley physiotherapist Andy Jones is linking up with Adrian Heath at Everton.
I can exclusively reveal tonight that Jones has agreed a three-year deal with Everton and will start his duties at Goodison Park a week today.
Burnley have advertised the vacant Turf Moor post and hope to make an appointment in the next week.
Jones, a highly respected and experienced member of the Turf Moor backroom team, joined Burnley as a replacement for Mark Leather in 1994.
Leather, ironically, is now the physio at Everton's city rivals, Liverpool.
Jones was first appointed by Jimmy Mullen following Burnley's successful promotion play-off win at Wembley in May 1994.
He subsequently worked under Adrian Heath and Chris Waddle.
Jones said: "I've enjoyed my time at Burnley immensely and I am looking forward to the challenge the new post will offer me at Everton."
Burnley's B team lost 1-0 at Wrexham on Friday. The A team had a Lancashire League fixture against Manchester City at Gawthorpe today.
Peter Swan netted for Bury in their 1-0 win over Tranmere Rovers at Gigg Lane.
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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