{"id":292141,"date":"2023-09-26T06:19:09","date_gmt":"2023-09-26T06:19:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports-life-news.com\/?p=292141"},"modified":"2023-09-26T06:19:09","modified_gmt":"2023-09-26T06:19:09","slug":"i-cried-when-my-prem-contract-offer-was-ripped-away-then-saudi-rejected-me","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports-life-news.com\/soccer\/i-cried-when-my-prem-contract-offer-was-ripped-away-then-saudi-rejected-me\/","title":{"rendered":"‘I cried when my Prem contract offer was ripped away – then Saudi rejected me’"},"content":{"rendered":"
  • Bookmark<\/span><\/path><\/path><\/svg><\/path><\/svg><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n

    <\/p>\n

    For the latest from the pitch sign up for our football newsletter<\/p>\n

    Thank you for subscribing!<\/h2>\n

    For the latest from the pitch sign up for our football newsletter<\/p>\n

    We have more newsletters<\/p>\n

    Andros Townsend has opened up about his summer, which was the 'most difficult period of his life', after he was released by Everton.<\/p>\n

    Townsend looked set to sign for Burnley, before the Clarets withdrew their contract offer – leaving Townsend without a club. "It was probably one of the toughest conversations I've had in my career," the ex-Everton man told BBC Radio 5's Monday Night Club.<\/p>\n

    The winger had a succesful trial, but Burnley withdrew the offer so they didn't block the development of young players. Townsend said: "If I was bad and knew I wasn't going to get a contract I could prepare myself.<\/p>\n

    READ MORE: <\/b>'I scored winner against Sir Alex Ferguson's Man Utd \u2013 it cost me Ryan Giggs' shirt'<\/b><\/p>\n

    READ MORE: <\/b>Best Premier League club for boozing revealed \u2013 with 131 pubs near stadium<\/b><\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    Sky Sports is bringing you 500 live football games to watch, as well access to Cricket, Golf, F1, Boxing, NFL, NBA and more across eight<\/span> dedicated channels. Sky Sports is the <\/span>only way to watch all the action this year.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a322 a month<\/p>\n

    "But to be looking at houses, looking at schools, talking about squad numbers and then to be told the contract is no longer on offer, it rocked my world.<\/p>\n

    "But now after watching Burnley's first five games, I understand. With Luca Koleosho and Zeki Amdouni, these young players they have brought in. Burnley are a club that like sellable assets, so begrudgingly I understand why he made that decision not to block their pathway by signing a 32-year-old."<\/p>\n

    What do you think of Burnley withdrawing their contract offer? Let us know in the comments section<\/i> <\/b><\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    Townsend admitted the experience left him in tears, and the summer would get even worse for Englishman, who was then rejected by a third-tier Saudi side. He said: "A random agent said he had this club in the third division of Saudi Arabia and the president was desperate to sign me. <\/p>\n

    "After sleeping on it I got excited about playing football again.<\/p>\n

    "So I called him the next morning, which was Saudi deadline day, and he said he would set up a meeting. I eventually got told the president was not bringing any players in and the deadline passed."<\/p>\n

    However, as a free agent, Townsend can still be signed by clubs – and he concluded: "I'm waiting for the phone to ring now."<\/p>\n