Joey Gudjonsson Leaves Burnley FC

As expected Joey Gudjonsson is now no longer a Clarets player with news today now confirming he has left the club by mutual consent with immediate effect.

Gudjonsson has found opportunities limited this season in the first team. The 29 year old was last named in the eighteen as an unused substitute against Chelsea for the match at Turf Moor at the end of January and his last appearance was in the FA Cup defeat at Reading when he made the starting eleven in Laws second game in charge earlier that month.

He has not played at all since that time amidst rumours strongly denied by Laws at the time that the two of them had had a bust-up.

The Icelandic international midfielder had supposedly been upset by not being in the eighteen that faced Bolton at the Reebok in January. In all the previous games, Gudjonsson was always named in the eighteen albeit mainly on the bench.

It was clear that things were not well between the two when Gudjonsson made an alleged statement to an Icelandic football website in early April quoted by Sky Sports as follows:

'He (Laws) lost the dressing room long ago.I think all the players have lost faith in him, the performances say all that has to be said.'

That astonishing outburst led to Gudjonsson being suspended by the club whilst they carried out an investigation.

It was clear though that Gudjonsson's days were numbered at Turf Moor following comments by the manager and with his current contract running out in the summer it was only a matter of time before he would be leaving for pastures new.

The full press release today from the club provided to Vital Burnley reads:

Burnley Football Club can confirm that Joey Gudjonsson has ended his association with the club by mutual consent.

The club and the Icelandic midfielder, 29, have reached an agreement that sees him leave Turf Moor with immediate effect.

Gudjonsson`s current contract with the Clarets, who he joined in the summer of 2007, was due to expire in the summer.

In his three year spell with the club Joey made a total of 109 appearances, scoring seven goals; his most memorable coming from long range in the Lancashire derby with Preston North End in the promotion winning season.

The midfielder played his part in the Clarets earning promotion to the Barclays Premier League for the first time, but has subsequently only made one league start this season, at Tottenham Hotspur, along with nine substitute appearances.

Joey also made two Carling Cup and two FA Cup appearances in the 2009/10 campaign and his last appearance for the club came in the FA Cup defeat at Reading in January 2010.

Burnley Football Club would thank Joey for his service during a historic time in the club`s history, and wish him every success in his future career.

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