HE may not have been able to match Phil Jones’ success at Ewood Park, but Stanley defender Dean Winnard is just relieved to have found a career after Blackburn Rovers.

The tales are widespread of young players slipping out of the game after being released. Winnard has seen friends suffer that fate.

The 20-year-old was fretting as he attempted to find a new club a year ago but, after trials at several clubs, including Stanley’s imminent Carling Cup opponents Doncaster, he switched to the Crown Ground and has not looked back.

Arriving having played at centre back for Rovers’ reserves, he made 54 starts at left back last season and looks likely to start in the Reds’ season opener at home to Aldershot on Saturday.

“It was my first season in the Football League and I loved it,” he said. “It was brilliant playing every week.

“When I left Blackburn I arranged a few trials, but when people start saying, ‘Come back next year and we’ll see’, it starts to get a bit worrying.

“So when the gaffer here offered me a contract I was over the moon.

“It’s not a case that if you’re at a Premier League club you’re going to get somewhere. You think yourself very lucky if you do, especially in the leagues.

“I’ve got other mates who left and are just working now as builders and things like that – some who I thought had better ability than me.”

Winnard has viewed the progress of fellow defenders Jones and Grant Hanley at Rovers with interest, but knows his release from Ewood was probably the best decision for all concerned.

“I was the last one to be told,” he said. “They were saying I was on the borderline so I waited, but then they said I was free to go.

“I was pretty happy in a way, though, because I didn’t really see myself getting near the first team.

“There’s so much competition and you rarely see a young lad getting in, although obviously there is Phil Jones now. I’m not envious, I’m made up for him. Obviously you think, ‘That could have been me’. But you get on with it.

“To be a first teamer at Blackburn was a dream.

“But after being in the reserves for a while you’ve got to get out.”