Stephens can go all the way

DALE Stephens is a work in progress says Athletic manager Paul Dickov.

The talented midfielder has given the club a major boost by putting pen to paper on a new three-year contract.

The 22-year-old has quickly become a star attraction in the middle of the park since breaking into the side last term.

And there were fears that a player signed by former boss John Sheridan from Bury two years ago could be heading out of the club, with his current deal expiring at the end of this season.

Instead, Stephens has committed himself to Athletic and Dickov believes there is still plenty of room for improvement in his game.

"It is great news," said Dickov, of the player who scored twice as Athletic kicked off the season with a 2-1 win at Tranmere.

"Dale was one of the players who we knew all about before we came here. Potentially, we think he can go all the way to the top in the game.

"He has played only 29 games for us so far and we feel that he will get better and better through playing. It is good from the club's point of view that he has chosen to commit himself to a three-year deal.

"He has started the season very well, but we feel there is still a lot more to come from him. He is fit, six foot tall and a box-to-box player who has great quality on the ball."

Stephens, who is now contracted to Athletic until June, 2013, took the captain's armband in last week’s Carling Cup defeat at Scunthorpe in the absence of Sean Gregan and Reuben Hazell, and his silk-and-steel partnership with Dean Furman in the middle of the park has been a feature of the season so far.

"They have both been exceptional and we feel that their styles complement each other very well," Dickov added.

Shrewsbury have rejected Athletic's proposal to allow free entry for the Johnstone's Paint Trophy tie later this month.

Admission has been set at £5 for adults and £2 for senior citizens and under-16s in the main stand. The same prices apply for adults and senior citizens in the Leesfield Developments Rochdale Road stand, where under-16s can get in free.


ATHLETIC paid out £22,150 in agents' fees in 2009-10, according to official figures released by the Football League.

The total figure in all three divisions rose from £8.8million the previous season to £12.7million, with League One clubs committing £2.2million between July 2009 and June 2010.

Exeter City, Stockport County and Tranmere Rovers were the only League One clubs not to pay any agent fees.


ATHLETIC’S reserves went down to a poor 6-0 home defeat to Burnley last night.