RELEASED Burnley captain Steven Caldwell has admitted he sensed this season would be his last at Turf Moor when former boss Owen Coyle left in January.

The Scotland international and Stephen Jordan were this week told they would not be offered new contracts.

While Brian Laws’ decision to part with Caldwell did not come as a shock to the 29-year-old, after spending much of the season on the sidelines with injury, he believes the Clarets are wrong to allow former Manchester City left back Jordan to leave on a free transfer.

“I had the pleasure of playing beside Stevie for a long time. He’s a great friend and I totally trust him,” said Caldwell.

“I’m surprised they didn’t want to give him a new deal.

“He’s a great age and a tremendous capture for a lot of teams, so I’m sure he is looking forward to moving on now.”

Of his own situation, he admitted he was sad to be leaving a club he captained to promotion, but has accepted his fate and is looking forward to the next stage of his career.

“It’s one of those things, it was coming. It had got to a point where the club were comfortable about letting me go and I was comfortable about leaving,” said Caldwell, whose season has been blighted by a complicated groin and abdominal problem.

“It was amicable but I am sad to be leaving a great club.

“I always keep an open mind when I go into things. If the club had wanted to speak to me I would have listened, but circumstances meant that it was better for everyone that I moved on.

“It’s been a tremendous journey of three-and-a-half years, how it’s evolved and become reality.

"It’s been the highlight of my career, and it’s not been soured by leaving because it was in my head at the beginning of my career that that might happen.

“When Owen left it rocked me a great deal.

“I tried to remain open-minded with a new manager, but I was injured when he arrived so it was difficult.”

Of the future, Caldwell added: “I’m looking forward to whatever challenge I choose.

“I’m quite open. I want to listen to people.

"I want to be wanted and speak to a manager I believe in, like when I first came to Burnley, listening to Steve Cotterill and liking what he had to tell me.

“I was disappointed I couldn’t play as many games as I would have liked in the Premier League.

“Spurs was a fantastic note to leave on. It was a tremendous performance by us from being 2-0 down against an excellent side.

"We were hanging in there a bit but to win 4-2 was a reminder of the old days to an extent, when we were doing that often last season.

“It’s disappointing it came so late. But it’s been a pleasure to play in that team and it’s been an honour and a privilege to captain those boys.

“They are a tremendous group - the best I’ve worked with in my career - and I hope I still keep in touch with them.

“It becomes difficult in football because you move to different parts of the country, but I’m sure we’ll meet up for a game of golf or a beer somewhere.

“We are true friends and a mutual bond helped us achieve success.”