While most of Ireland's footballers plying their trade in England are either on international duty or resting up for the new campaign ahead there is a glut of players who are unsure of their future in the game.

These are the players who have been released by their clubs and are now out of a job. The summer for them does not look so rosy as they look back on what went wrong and look forward not knowing whether they will play the game that they love at a professional level.

Port Vale could save two of these players this heartache. Everton's Dean Delaney and Gary Dempsey were both released by Walter Smith at the end of the season even though they were seasoned internationals with the Republic of Ireland at their respective levels.

Both won European Championship medals, Delaney with the u18s and Dempsey with the u16s. Both have progressed up the international ladder since then but still they were surplus to requirements at Goodison Park.

Including these two players, there are now four Irishmen who have been shown the door at Everton since Walter Smith moved South of the border from Rangers. He also got rid of Gareth Farrelly and Terry Phelan, both of whom have resurrected their international careers since the move.

Delaney and Dempsey could get a quick return to England. Port Vale are reported to be interested in giving both of them a chance as they plan their rebuilding program after suffering relegation to Division Two. Vale have already offered Delaney a contract and have also invited Dempsey over for pre-season training.

Dempsey said: "It's a strange situation to be in. Getting let go was hard but I was sort of expecting it. It would be better for me to be with a club that will give me first-team action. I wouldn't have a problem playing in the Eircom League so long as the offer was satisfactory."

While there is a glimmer of hope for Delaney and Dempsey, what about the rest of the Irish players who find themselves out in the cold?

Belvedere old boys Kwame Ampadu and Stephen Murphy are in the hunt for new clubs. Ampadu, who started a promising career at Arsenal, failed to make it at the top level but has since gone on to distinguish himself in the lower leagues.

The 29-year-old spent time at West Brom and a very successful time at Swansea City before finishing up with Leyton Orient. Orient had a crap season last year and Kwame was one of the casualties.

Murphy promised so much when he signed for Huddersfield but after failing to break into the first team he moved to Halifax to play under former Irish international Kieran O'Regan. Now after two years they have decided to release him.

Other Irish players to be released include Paul McGrath's tip for the top, David Greene, let go by Colchester; Sean Mannion of Stockport County; and Paul Armstrong, who was with Brighton.

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