Rumour Mill- A Penny for Them...But Not Us!?

Speculation in the media today suggests Brian Laws could be about to offer Diego Penny a free transfer.

It was Owen Coyle who brought the Peruvian international keeper to Turf Moor.Penny signed a three-year contract for Burnley in June 2008 after playing for Peruvian side Coronel Bolognesi for four years.

Great things were expected of him and he secured the Number 1 shirt. Most Clarets fans thought he would therefore replace Brain Jensen as our number one choice keeper and that was certainly the club's intention!

He was given his first chance to shine in the opening game of the 2008-9 season in a match at Hillsborough against Sheffield Wednesday. The Owls team back then of course were led by our current gaffer, Brian Laws and one wonders if he remembers that match considering they thumped us 4-1 with Penny it seems taking most of the blame! In truth I don't think Penny was the only one to blame that day with most of the back four also letting the side down.

Penny though seems to have been made the scapegoat and was dropped. In fact that has been his only first start in a League game since. He made one substitute appearance to make his Premier League debut last season, after coming on for the injured Jensen in a 3-1 home defeat to Wigan Athletic but other than that apart from a handful of Cup game appearances it has not happened for Penny at Turf Moor!

The unfortunate Penny was sidelined even more for the second half of last season with the arrival of Nicky Weaver in January this year. In effect he became the third-string keeper and was not seen again even on the subs bench!

Weaver, who never made his debut for the Clarets was released at the end of last season and speculation that a new keeper would be signed made it clear that Penny's days were numbered.

Newcastle keeper, Fraser Forster is now the strong favourite to compete with Brian Jensen and could be signed on a season-long loan sometime this week.

Diego Penny, the forgotten man of football made a surprise appearance in our pre-season friendly against Bury at Gigg Lane yesterday coming on in the second half to replace Jensen.

This looks now more like a chance for Penny to showboat his skills with a view to a new club taking some interest.

If the rumours are true, despite Penny having one year of his contract still to run, Laws has decided to release Penny by allowing him to go on a free transfer to tempt other clubs to take him.

Such a shame, Penny has had a pretty bad experience at Turf Moor and let's all wish him well in whatever now lies ahead.

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