FORMER Clarets favourite Ted McMinn is brushing up on different skills as he starts afresh in Australia - he's become a part-time painter!

The soccer star, nicknamed the Tin Man, left Burnley without public explanation last month.

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph later tracked him down to Perth, where he had already signed for a local team.

Now we can reveal the wizard of Aus, who plays in first division team Joondalup City, is painting fences to earn extra cash in his spare time.

But he's finding it hard to keep off the golf courses in his home city of Joondalup.

Mel Moffat, a sports writer with the Western Australian newspaper, said: "Ted's really settled into his new way of life here.

"He loves the golf and challenged me to a game the other day. He's also got a great tan because we're in the middle of some glorious weather at the moment.

"He's also got a part time job now. He's been painting fences and sun screens.

"Ted is Joondalup City's number one player. He's scored two goals in the last six games and he's been responsible for setting up all the chances. He's proved invaluable to the team."

The 33-year-old former Glasgow Rangers and Derby County player has also had trials with national league side Perth Glory.

He is expected to be told in the next few weeks if he will be selected for the squad to play in September.

During a recent cup game against Aussie team Queen's Park, McMinn scored two goals and set up another two to send his side to a 4-2 victory.

The star wasn't too happy when we traced him to his home in the northern suburbs of Perth last month.

He told us he was only on holiday and that he had not signed for a team - even though we had a picture of the grinning player with his new club president!

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