Midfielder signs

Last updated : 06 June 2008 By The Chairman
Bury's promising teenage midfield player Dale Stephens has signed for Athletic and will join the club on 1st. July. Stephens is out of contract at the end of June and has exercised his right to move to another club. There will be a fee to pay but it is not yet known how much as the fee is likely to be set by a tribunal. Athletic have been after the 19 year old for months and they had a bid turned down by Bury during the January transfer window.

New Bury manager Alan Knill tried to keep the youngster at Gigg Lane but he took the offer of a move to Oldham. Stephens made his way into the senior side in the 2006-07 season after he made his debut against Peterborough in February and also went on loan to Droylsden last September where he made six appearances.

Alan Hardy commented, "Dale is a signing for the future. He is still a young lad and has only a few first team games under his belt, so it is likely that he will not figure in the first team starting line-up at the beginning of the season."