Drink-driving footballer Dale Stephens has been mocked after finding out he was being released by Burnley whilst on social media site Twitter.
The 33-year-old signed for the Turf Moor outfit in 2020 following six successful seasons with Brighton in which he helped the Seagulls win promotion to the Premier League.
Unfortunately he suffered an injury, which meant Stephens was limited to just 14 appearances for the club during his two seasons at the club, and his future was at risk as his contract ticked down.
With his deal expiring, Stephens has revealed how he discovered he didn’t have a future at the club.
Back in April 2022, the midfielder was banned from driving for 12 months and fined more than £3,000 after being caught drink driving. He was caught over the legal limit and appeared at Stockport Magistrates Court on Monday charged with driving a vehicle while above the legal alcohol limit.
📱 “I actually found out I’d been released on Twitter…”
❌ “It’s bizarre. There wasn’t dialogue, but it was a clean break.”
Dale Stephens reveals how he found out he’d been released by Burnley pic.twitter.com/2UMb6mPVeX
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) July 3, 2022
He told talkSPORT’s Sunday Session: “The writing was on the wall in the period I had there.
“It was disappointing on both sides, I didn’t really see it panning out the way that it did because when I initially went there I was excited for the challenge, but for whatever reason it didn’t work for me or the football club.
“I sort of knew that I wouldn’t be there next year.
“It probably sums my time up there, but I found out on Twitter, of all places, that I wouldn’t be getting a new contract.
“It was bizarre really. I knew anyway before my contract expired but it’s when they release it to the press and stuff and I just see it on my Twitter feed that I’ve been released.
“There’s just not much dialogue in terms of offering contracts etc, but it’s a clean break which isn’t always a bad way to go about it.
“At least you know where you stand in the long term.”
When questioned about what’s next, Stephens said: “The last week or two have been okay, but in two or three weeks or so if it’s still quite quiet…
“A few lads are in the same position, but the closer it gets to the start of the season which is at the end of the month in the Championship, it is going to play on your mind a little bit more.
“At the moment I’m in a good enough position where I’m lucky to go down to Brighton and train and I’m due to do that this week until Friday.
“I know I’m doing as much as I can in the meantime, but I can imagine that in a couple of weeks’ time it’ll be a little bit edgy.”
He added: “It’s about trying to find the right fit really.
“I’ve had a difficult couple of years the last two years with not playing many minutes so the main focus is around trying to get as many games as possible over the next couple of years.
“I’d like to finish playing, rather than going out not playing enough minutes in the latter stages of my career.”
BURNLEY’S RELEASED/RETAINED LIST ANNOUNCEMENT
The following players will depart the Club upon expiry of their contract: James Tarkowski, Ben Mee, Aaron Lennon, Erik Pieters, Dale Stephens, Phil Bardsley, Joel Mumbongo, Richard Nartey, Anthony Glennon, Anthony Gomez Mancini, Ethen Vaughan, Sam Unwin, Harry Allen, Joel Connolly and Calen Gallagher-Allison.
The following players remains in discussion with the Club over a contract extension: Matej Vydra, Jack Cork
The following players have had their contract options activated to stay at the Club a further year: Ashley Barnes, Max Thompson and Ne-Jai Tucker.
The following U23 players have been offered a new contract: Finn Armstrong, Dara Costelloe, Rob Harker, Joe McGlynn, Jake Rooney and Ben Woods.
The following U18 players have had their scholarships extended for a further season: Benn Ward, Sam Waller, Dan Sassi, Keelan Williams, Dane McCullough, Jacson Coppack, Will Hugill, Kade Ratchford and Jacob Hamilton.
The following U18 players will depart the Club upon expiry of their scholarship: Ruiari Behan, Will Couch, Sean Etaluku, Jack Leckie, Joe Smyth-Ferguson and George Walters.
The following players are in contract with the Club for the 2022/23 season: Nick Pope, Wayne Hennessey, Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Will Norris, Sam Waller, Matt Lowton, Connor Roberts, Nathan Collins, Kevin Long, Bobby Thomas, Jacob Bedeau, Charlie Taylor, Owen Dodgson, Mark Helm, Adam Phillips, Josh Brownhill, Ashley Westwood, Johann Berg Gudmundsson, Dwight McNeil, Maxwel Cornet, Lewis Richardson, Michael Mellon, Jay Rodriguez and Wout Weghorst.
Last month saw Belgian manager Vincent Kompany confirmed as the permanent successor to Sean Dyche. He has a big rebuilding job on his hands and so far has brought in four new faces: Scott Twine, Luke McNally, CJ Egan-Riley and Taylor Harwood-Bellis. Those acquisitions have helped add some youthfulness to the squad with the quartet all aged 22 or under.
Premier League player Dale Stephens has been mocked after finding out he was being released by Burnley whilst on social media site Twitter…
@Jelbert2Gilbert: We only found out about his drink driving incident via social media…. hey ho..swings and roundabouts
@p_williams26: I actually only found out he played for Burnley via Twitter and I am Burnley fan
@mickgent: Hardly played and is shocked his contract didn’t get renewed ha ha yeah ok pal.
@sternejohn: Decent player Dale, I remember when he left Charlton so he could go back North nearer his family and joined…… Brighton 🤣
@MrDuperouzel: I’m sure it was a massive surprise. In 2 years he managed more points on his license than games started
@BFC84Ash: in fairness he never showed up we forgot he was there
@luke_palmer15: It’s not like he found out on the day 😂 he would’ve realised oh hang on, my contract is up and it’s not being renewed. Guess that means I’m leaving 😂😂 not like it was 50/50 and then he found out on here
@AlanGib15050254: Can’t be very bright, his contract was coming to an end, did he not ask? No he knew he wasn’t being offered a new contract, he was training with Brighton last week.
@claretadora: Owh please come on!! learned on Twitter. 😂 Your commentators looking down their noises?! The club stood by him on the drink driving issue others would not! BOC right there. The was NO SURPRISE for any party particularly the fans! Move on. #twitterclarets
@n19drk: Clean break? How about have a clean licence you reprobate
@RobLittle84: Absolutely stole a monster wage at Burnley……more fool the club giving him such a big contract
@JDriverPendle: No sympathy. Stole a wage from Burnley. See ya 👋
@JollySpaulding: The same guy who was on the field for Brighton shouting that we are shit. Good riddance 😅
@mattsutty83: Thought his new contract was in the post did he? Absolute helmet!
@mboulton7: Gutted for him!! Definitely deserved a new pointless 2 year contract!! 😂😂😂😂😂👋🏼
@BFC442: Drink driver / shit player / never fit / good riddance
@danmoz88: Good, been stealing 40k plus every week for doing fuck all. Terrible signing
@BFCJason1882: Cause you were wank mate
@Dastardlygamer1: And thats why people think footballers are thick, the contract runs out you do not get offered another contract and you are shocked to see that you are on the clubs released list 🤦♂️
@heaton74: Wage steeler. Thank fuck he has gone. One of the worst signings in recent history. Dog shite.
@Philgreaves81: You was out of contract 🤷🏻♂️ wage stealing for to long
@ChrisTedR11: Contributed absolutely feck all. Complete waste of a signing. Nice drive home, oh no that’s right, you can’t!
@Benny_Nhot: 40K per week!!?! 😳 Just shows how mad (f&cked-up) the Premier League is financially. Possibly 40K per annum. Daylight robbery.
@stoops_gallery: Piss off Stephens. Me mum has more fight and determination in her and she’s knocking on 80. What a waste of time and money. Good riddance.
@Jovo_Holmes: The guy stole a living at Burnley, why we chased him for all them years I’ll never know. He was awful and he played only 4 games for us. Good riddance!
@ibby1971: The sickly child. Zero contribution for the length of his contract. Stole a living to be honest.
@chrishampson99: Should never of been signed and clearly did not want to be here. Will go down as one of the worst signings ever at Burnley – Offered nothing and stole a living and then goes on a live national radio station and moans – good riddance !
@jhgplumbing: Good riddance stole a living. Didn’t deserve a new contract constantly injured then also got done for drink driving
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