Burnley have released Joey Barton at the end of his contract, four weeks after he was banned from football for 18 months because of breaking gambling rules.

The 34 year old midfielder admitted to making more then 1,200 bets over a 10 year period.

Footballers are not allowed to gamble on their own sport.

The Premier League club say talks are continuing with out-of-contract pair George Boyd and Paul Robinson.

Winger Michael Kightly has also been released.

Commenting on the decision to part ways with Barton, Burnley manager Sean Dyche said, "Joey leaves us for the obvious reasons after he has again been a big part of what we have achieved this season."

In April, the FA published the written reasons for the 18 month ban, stating, "The Commission concluded that the shortest possible sanction to reflect the totality of his betting breaches was a suspension from football and footballing activity for a period of 18 months. In doing so it had regard to the Scottish ban.

"The Commission considered the reason advanced on the Player’s behalf. They do not justify suspending any part of the sporting sanction. The totality of the offending is so serious as to merit an immediate suspension of the length determined."

Barton had initially joined Burnley in 2015 and helped them to promotion to the Premier League, before signing for Rangers.

That eventful spell in Scotland proved brief and he returned to Burnley midway through the season, going on to make 14 appearances in the Premier League.