BURNLEY Cricket Club have released popular professional Rudra Singh.

The Turf Moor club announced that they will not retain the services of the Indian all-rounder after he suffered a foot injury mid-way through the Lancashire League season.

"He's done a great job for us and has worked ever so hard with the youngsters but the injury meant he was not fully fit for the latter part of the season," explained secretary Dave Harvey.

"He was an extremely well thought of professional at Burnley and we would like to take this opportunity to wish Rudra all the best for the future."

Singh has spent two seasons at Turf Moor and was previously the professional for Blackburn Northern in the Vaux Ribblesdale League. He scored 730 runs and landed 58 wickets in 1995. Burnley, who finished in the lower reaches of the Lancashire League, say they are actively searching for a replacement but that no announcement was imminent.

Colne, not surprisingly, have offered new terms to run-machine Ben Johnson.

The prolific South Australian, who smashed the Lancashire League batting record, has indicated he would like to return to The Horsfield in 1997.

"Ben is very keen to come back but it all hinges on his commitments with South Australia and there's always the possibility of him playing with the Australian senior squad before too long," said a Colne spokesman.

Todmorden have made overtures to South Australian professional Daniel Marsh and a spokesman confirmed: "We would like him to come back to Centre Vale in 1997.

"He is playing for Tasmania in the winter and he's not yet totally sure of his commitments for next summer."

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