joined League Two side Bristol Rovers for their pre-season tour of the Isle of Man. He then stayed at the Memorial Stadium on a short-term deal after impressing manager Ian Atkins, however after five games he joined league rivals Shrewsbury Town on non-contract terms on 10 December 2004, choosing to join Gary Peters' side rather than staying longer with Bristol Rovers. He stayed just two weeks at Gay Meadow, before he joined Kidderminster Harriers, also of League Two, on non-contract terms. He appeared just once at Aggborough, before he was released by manager Stuart Watkiss on 5 January 2005. Two days later he joined Conference National club Forest Green Rovers on non-contract terms. He played three times for the club, before leaving The Lawn Ground for Ireland. Republic of Ireland He played for Sligo Rovers, helping them to top the First Division table in 2005, and therefore win a place in the Premier Division. He was with Sean Connor's "Bit o' Red" in 2006, as they recorded a fifth-place finish. When Connor left Sligo for Bohemians at the end of the 2006 season, Burns soon followed him to Dalymount Park and became a regular in the first eleven. A third-place finish in 2007 meant that they qualified for UEFA Intertoto Cup football. They also reached the final of the League of Ireland Cup, losing out to Derry City after Kevin McHugh's extra-time strike at the Brandywell Stadium. Burns netted his first goal for "Bohs" against his former club Sligo on 21 March 2008 in a 2–1 win. Bohemians then went on to win the league in 2008 under new manager Pat Fenlon, thereby qualifying for UEFA Champions League football. Burns played in the 2008 FAI Cup Final, as "Bohs" beat Derry on penalties in front of over 10,000 spectators at the Royal Dublin Society. During his two years with the club he played alongside Jason McGuinness and then Ken Oman. Burns' consistency was rewarded when he was voted on to the Premier Division Team for 2008, receiving 59% of the votes for the centre back position. After rejecting a new deal with the club, Burns reunited with former boss Sean Connor at Dundalk for the 2009 season. The Oriel Park side posted a fifth-place finish in 2009, though at the end of the season two sides above them (Derry and Cork City) were demoted. Burns missed just two league games