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Saints sign 21 year old Dale Stephens on loan - official


Saint_clark

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http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10280~2323576,00.html

 

http://www.oldhamathletic.co.uk/page/NewsUpdate/0,,10337~2323535,00.html

 

Dale Stephens has joined npower League One rivals Southampton on loan for the remainder of the season.

 

The 21-year-old midfield player was the subject of an enquiry earlier this week by Saints which was rejected by Latics.

 

Stephens initially turned down the chance to leave saying he wanted to stay at Boundary Park.

 

Saints came back with another financial offer and this time Stephens and his agent expressed a wish to talk to the South Coast club.

 

Paul Dickov is disappointed to lose Stephens who only made his first-team debut 15 months ago. Since then he has become an integral part of the team.

 

The Latics manager said: "When Southampton came in we turned down their offer and Dale told us he wanted to stay.

 

"But after speaking to his agent, he came back and expressed a wish to speak to them."

 

Dickov added that it is only a loan to the end of the season adding he has no doubts Stephens will go on to play at a higher level.

 

He explained: "I would like to wish Dale all the best as he is a fantastic kid who has a great attitude.

 

"We think the world of him and I have no doubts he will go on to play at a higher level."

 

The Latics manager is looking to bring in a replacement for Stephens and is confident he can seal the deal before the 5pm transfer deadline for emergency loan signings.

Edited by Saint_clark
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good signing..who will be the first to complain..?

 

I'll happily give any new player a chance and eveything I've read about this guy sounds promising.... BUT... I can't help but think an experienced player would have been a better idea with the situation we're in. I really hope I'm wrong but I feel we're putting an awful lot of pressure on young shoulders if we're expecting this guy to come in an perform from the off.

 

Having said that good luck Dale and welcome on board the bus!!

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Well, he's a starter for a decent team in this League, he's more accomplished than Gobern, he's playing in a position in which we needed to sign a player, and he's got a potential upside with his age, so I'm reasonably happy with this.

 

Beats waiting around for nothing in certain parts of Saints recent history...

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His goal scoring attributes complement a player who can win the ball and has an eye for a pass, characteristics that have led to him being a long term target of Nigel Adkins, who has tracked his progress over the past months. Stephens has also attracted keen interest from clubs above League One level with Leeds United and a number of Premier League sides reportedly having kept tabs on the player.

 

The gritty midfielder will add competition for places in the centre of the park,

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Someone has been having fun on Wiki.

 

On 24th March 2011 he signed on loan for Southampton until the end of the season. After mass confusion of his age on The official websites of Oldham Athletic and Southampton Football Club, an age was later agreed as 14.

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