'Some things are just non-negotiable' - Ex-Hearts defender has loan deal cancelled after 'breach of discipline'

Burnley defender 'had a couple of good performances' but club decided to change direction

Former Hearts defender Jimmy Dunne has returned to his parent club Burnley after Fleetwood Town cancelled his loan deal amid references to a "discipline breach".

The 22-year-old signed a season-long loan deal with Joey Barton's side on the last day of the summer transfer window, but has returned to Turf Moor ahead of another expected loan deal.

The Dundalk-born centre-back is yet to make a senior appearance for the Clarets and spent time on loan at Sunderland last season, but could now embark on a sixth loan spell since 2017 with Bolton keen to take Dunne on loan for the second half of the campaign.

Jimmy Dunne has returned to Burnley after his loan spell at Fleetwood was cut short

According to Evening News sister title the Blackpool Gazette, Barton remained tight-lipped over the intricate details of Dunne's departure but admitted that a line had been crossed.

He added: "It’s another thing that will stay in the confines of the football club, another discipline breach in our opinion. Something that is non-negotiable for us.

'He crossed a line'

“A lesson that needs to be learned for a young player. Jim did great, had a couple of good performances and scored a couple of good goals, but some things are just non-negotiable and he crossed a line for us."

Unconfirmed reports claimed the player had been involved in an incident ahead of Town's match with Blackpool last month. Dunne wasn't included in the matchday squad as Fleetwood lost 3-1.

Barton continued: “We’ve just decided to change direction, there was a line crossed; for our dressing room it was impossible for it to continue.

“I always speak to my dressing room because they are the football club. The players are the ones who go out and they’re in the trenches.

“They have to be sure that everyone is facing the same direction and they’re not going to get a sideswipe. That has been dealt with and we move forward."

Dunne spent the first half of the 2018/19 season on loan at Hearts, scoring twice in 14 games.