Andros Townsend left in tears after Premier League club ‘rip contract away’
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Former Tottenham winger Andros Townsend has admitted that he broke down in tears after being denied a move to Burnley over the summer. Townsend, who has been without a club since his release from Everton at the end of last season, trained with Vincent Kompany’s side for weeks in the hope of earning a contract at Turf Moor.
The 32-year-old even featured in a couple of friendlies for the Clarets, which gave him hope that a deal would be struck to keep him in the Premier League. However, a busy transfer window meant that Burnley’s priorities were elsewhere and they withdrew the offer in a bid to avoid blocking the development of young players.
Townsend has since admitted that Burnley’s decision not to sign him was incredibly hard to take, telling BBC Radio 5 Live: “It was probably one of the toughest conversations I’ve had in my career. If I was bad and knew I wasn’t going to get a contract I could prepare myself.
“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. I argued my point, put my case forward that I offer something different, that I’m comfortable being a squad player and good around the squad even when not playing.
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“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 [Kompany] made that decision not to block their pathway by signing a 32-year-old.”
Townsend returned to London after his trial period at Burnley and has been training with Tottenham’s under-18 side in a bid to stay fit for any potential suitors. He went on to explain that a move to Turkey looked to be on the cards after receiving assurances from an agent before the rug was pulled from under his feet once again.
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“I was in Turkey the whole of deadline day,” added Townsend. “An agent said ‘100 per cent I’ve got this deal’. I waited the whole of deadline day and it didn’t happen. That’s been my month, people giving me false hope.
“A random agent said he had this club in the third division of Saudi Arabia and the president was desperate to sign me. After sleeping on it I got excited about playing football again, 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.
“The situation is I’ve not played a competitive match for 18 months, so because of my age and lack of minutes English clubs can’t take that risk. I looked abroad and thought clubs would be desperate to sign a player of my experience but it was the same again, lack of minutes.”
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