STEVE Stone is confident Michael Fowler will have no trouble finding a new club following his release by Burnley.

The striker was the headline name among a clutch of Clarets youngsters released last week.

Fowler, who has spent time on loan at Padiham and Radcliffe Borough this season, had been in the goals for the Clarets Under-18 and Under-23 squads this term.

Indeed Stone felt the player possessed plenty of potential but said the Clarets did not see Fowler reaching Sean Dyche’s first team.

“In terms of Michael, it is where we see him in terms of progressing towards our first team,” Stone said.

“And we also have to be fair to the boy and we also felt that Michael would get closer to other teams’ first team or get a chance of a two-year contract at another club.

“He has scored goals at this (Under-23) level and has always scored goals.

“We just thought the level for first team was going to be difficult for him and I hope I am proved wrong because he is a good lad and will get a contract somewhere else.

“He will go and play and his enthusiasm will get him somewhere else.”

Along with Fowler, Burnley released Oscar Woods, Kian Yari, Ethan Kershaw, Richard Taylor, Dan Moss, Terry Mupariwa and Dylon Meredith while offering Bobby Thomas a professional deal. Will Harris and Kai Calderbank-Park will stay on as third year scholars.

And Stone said the decisions over the class of 2019 had proved particularly difficult.

“It has been tough, not just with Michael because he scored the goals, but this has been probably the toughest year they have ever had at the Academy in recent years because they are all great lads,” said the Under-23 chief.

“They have been so good around the building, they all did everything they could to earn contracts but once again the football club’s standards have got higher.

“We will give them good references and people will pick up the phone and we will look after them on that side of it and also because of that they will get other clubs.”