Anthony Stokes is enduring a turbulent time at Celtic Park as manager Ronny Delia appears to have no place for the Irish international in his plans going forward, but a recent interview that he conducted with a Glasgow based newspaper puts his current struggles into perspective when considering what he has dealt with in the past.
While talking to the Sunday Post, Stokes explained that he has received threats on his life and the well-being of his family that forced him to consider quitting the game, such were the severity of their content:
There was a stage where I got four or five threats that I felt I had no option but to speak to the club’s security guys, who reported it to the police.
An anonymous Twitter account was set up and sent me messages saying I was going to be shot dead as soon as I got back to Dublin. They came in over a period of 10, 15 minutes and there was something in it that revealed personal knowledge.
That was the worst. I don’t know what was behind it. Maybe Dublin was to show they knew where to get me. Whatever, it wasn’t just an idiot with a keyboard. There’s nothing really I can do but try and get on with it. I’m certainly not going to accept it.
People react to what they think is the truth and what they think they know about me. I’ve never gone out to offend anyone and I don’t think I’ve been controversial. To a certain extent I guess I am prepared to deal with it but, when my girlfriend and kids get dragged into it you always worry they get targeted.
Footballers take a lot of stick on social media, but when a line is crossed like that it can no longer be about ignoring the comments, and Stokes continued to explain that he genuinely had to consider if it was worth the worry that these death threats were causing him:
It definitely got to the point when I thought to myself ‘enough is enough’. There will be those out there who will say I have brought this on myself but I don’t believe that for a minute.
It’s not just about me, it’s about those around me, my girlfriend, my two young sons – they are the ones who suffer the most. There have been stages where it’s got dangerous and I’ve had to consider if it’s really worth it.
Frightening stuff.
Stokes is now in a position where his lack of club football has seen him shunted out on to the periphery of Martin O'Neill's thoughts regarding Euro 2016, with the striker's last appearance coming in a friendly against the USA in November of 2014.
He now needs to secure a move away from Glasgow, and will need to impress wherever he lands in order to force his way into contention for a seat on the plane to France.
via Independent.ie
