Bardsley reveals he discovered Burnley exit on players' group chat while at beach club

After Dale Stephens told talkSPORT he discovered his Clarets exit via Twitter, Bardsley says he found out via the players' group chat.

The Scotsman spent five years at Turf Moor, joining in 2017 and making 57 league appearance.

Like Stephens, he admits to feeling let down by the club's lack of gratitude or communication regarding his future.

Although, the fact that Bardsley was enjoying time off at a beach club in Spain probably helped.

"It was actually on the players' group chat," the 37-year-old told talkSPORT when asked how he found out about being released.

"I had a little day out with the wife, while we were away from the kids in Spain.

"My phone pinged and there was a little link. I've checked it and it was all the players that have been released by Burnley.

"It was quite strange, to be honest. But I sort of forgot about it because I was having such a good time!

"I think especially when you've been there for a period of time - four or five years is quite a long time at a football club - you just think someone would pick up and the phone and say, 'Thanks for everything'.

"But it wasn't the case. I found out on the lads' group chat and then it was on Sky Sports News."

Meanwhile, Stephens was left similarly bewildered when the rest of the world was informed of his exit before he was..

"It probably sums my time up there, but I found out on Twitter, of all places, that I wouldn't be getting a new contract," the midfielder told talkSPORT.

"It was bizarre really. I knew anyway before my contract expired but it's when they release it to the press and stuff and I just see it on my Twitter feed that I've been released.

"There's just not much dialogue in terms of offering contracts etc, but it's a clean break which isn't always a bad way to go about it.

"At least you know where you stand in the long term."