Davies sounds Twitter warning

14 November 2012 10:54
Bolton striker Kevin Davies believes Twitter is an unnecessary distraction that can play on the mind of young footballers.

Davies, who made his 600th career appearance in Wanderers' 2-2 draw at Blackpool on Saturday, was an active participant on the social media site until May 2011. The 34-year-old took exception to abusive messages aimed at himself and wife Emma and although he still uses his Twitter page, it is predominantly to retweet information on charitable causes. Marvin Sordell was the subject of vile slurs on the site after claiming he was racially abused while warming up as a substitute during Bolton's defeat against Millwall last month. An offensive banner about the England Under-21 forward unfurled at the New Den last weekend in the wake of a 13-year-old fan being banned over the Sordell incident stands as the latest fall-out. On the barbs thrown his team-mate's way, Davies said:

"I've heard a few things. I don't really go on Twitter anymore so I can't really comment.

"If it was me, I would advise not to go on it. I enjoyed my time on it because it gave you the opportunity to have conversations with fans and people and charities - that was fantastic.

"But when it gets to the point where you get abuse and stuff I think it can play on your mind, it can affect you.

"If you're not sleeping at night wondering what you're going to be waking up to, I don't think you really gain anything out of being on there."

Not that Davies thinks Twitter is without its merits, having enjoyed the opportunity for fan interaction that the modern game often denies.

"When I was on there I had some great conversations with people," he said. "Sometimes after games you can't sleep and you're having random conversations with a fan - that side, I absolutely loved it,

"People say it's only 'the one per cent' but one per cent of 180,000 people following me, that's still a lot of stick to be getting.

"If you get family and things brought into it like that I just don't think you need that in your life."

In the wake of Bolton's 5-0 FA Cup semi-final thrashing against Stoke in April 2011, seasoned-pro Davies found the slings and arrows difficult to deal with - making him ponder the detrimental effect of Twitter on younger players like Sordell. He added:

"After semi-finals and stuff I was hurting and everyone else was, and it just comes to a point where you're constantly checking, wondering if you're getting stick.

"Why do you need that? Just concentrate on your football. What you are gaining out of it as a 21 or 22-year I old, I don't know.

"I came off it and I felt a big weight off my shoulders because you're constantly having to wonder what you're tweeting or having to justify yourself."

Source: team_talk