One season. 12 games. 3 goals. 1 assist. Zero thanks.
Anthony Stokes started off brightly at Blackburn Rovers last season.
Three goals bagged before the end of August and a host of Irishmen, including Jack Byrne and Shane Duffy, as teammates.
Stokes ended up 43 minutes of first team action in 2017 and lined out twice with the Rovers academy side in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.
Not how Stokes planned it. Not how Owen Coyle planned it either. Coyle did not make it to Christmas at Ewood Park and many of the players he brought in are following him out the exit door.
Blackburn have confirmed that the Dubliner is no longer in their employ after his two-year contract was ended prematurely. The club released a statement that was short but not so sweet. There was a distinct lack of thanks and best wishes in a terse statement:
‘Blackburn Rovers have reached an agreement with Anthony Stokes to terminate the player’s contract with immediate effect.
‘The 28-year-old striker joined Rovers from Celtic last summer and scored three goals in 12 appearances for the club.’
The former Arsenal, Sunderland and Celtic striker is now on the look-out for a new club and has already been linked with a move to Hibernian, where he previously starred on loan.
Neil Lennon is Hibs manager and has spoken well of the Ireland international before, having coached him at Celtic.
