One of the area's most prominent Asian players, Amjad Iqbal, has been asked

to go for pre-season trials with Nationwide Division One outfit Burnley.

Bradford-based Iqbal has been tracked by the Lancashire outfit during his time at Farsley Celtic and offered thanks to outgoing manager Martin Haresign for giving him the opportunity in the UniBond Division One.

"It is true that they have had me watched at Farsley and have shown an interest in me but at this stage there is nothing more," said Iqbal.

Haresign, who was controversially removed from the manager's seat at Throstle Nest last Friday, had plucked Iqbal from the Northern Counties East Premier Division with a promise that playing for Celtic would raise his profile.

The energetic midfielder was with Thackley, one of Haresign's former clubs, and though he had been offered terms with Doncaster Rovers last pre-season had decided to continue in the semi-pro game while he finished his chemical engineering degree.

"I have applied for jobs but am still waiting to see what grade I get for my degree and was on the verge of moving to London. This chance, which might not have been if it hadn't been for Martin's belief in me, could change all that.

"There is no promise of anything from Burnley but they have

invited me to the stadium to

meet with the chairman and manager. It is very exciting and if I was to impress them and earn a contract then it would be perfect timing."

Iqbal added that he was as surprised as any of the playing staff at Throstle Nest that Haresign had been dismissed from his role.

"I was at the club the night before Martin got sacked, I had called in to pick up some wages that I was owed. No one said anything to me about what was going to happen and when I found out the day after I was shocked.

"Martin was very upset by it, he had just signed a new kid on that night. He was told they didn't want him to be the manager a few hours later. He did a lot for the club and I don't understand why they sacked him.

"But that's football, you just don't know what's round the corner - like me, getting ready to move away and take a job until this chance with Burnley came up.

"But I will certainly give it my best and put my career outside the game on hold and I will still have that bit of security behind me if it doesn't work out."