June 2005

Wednesday 1st Momo Sylla joins Leicester City from on a three-year deal. According to press reports, 'Craig Levein has been tracking Sylla for some time and has been particularly impressed by the player's versatility,' clearly a reference to the amount of different stand seats Sylla has occupied during the last four years.

Martin O'Neill revealed that one of his final acts as Celtic manager was to clear out a number of players before the arrival of Gordon Strachan. 'Momo's going to Leicester and it's a move I know he's looking forward to,' said MON. 'Not half as much as we are,' said a spokesman for Not The View (me).

Thursday 2nd not to be outdone by fellow bench warmer Momo Sylla, Ulrik Laursen reveals that Leicester City have made new inquiries about his availability. 'I know Leicester have inquired about me,' Laursen told Danish newspaper BT. 'It does not sound uninteresting; they were interested in me back in January. In case there is no future here, Leicester is a good option.'

Friday 3rd Two months after the event, Dermot Desmond tells the club's official website that he considered withdrawing his support for the club after booing of chairman Brian Quinn during the league game against Hearts last season. But despite being 'disgusted and embarrassed', he decided not to walk away. Instead he has pledged to give new manager Gordon Strachan 'all the backing we (the board) can': 'For the first time, I questioned whether I wanted to be associated with the kind of fans, albeit a minority, who would abuse and taunt a man who has put so much of his time and energy into developing their club. I'm used to the fact that the bulk of the board's work goes unrecognised, but at times like those I feel that I'd prefer just to be a fan - but a real fan, not one so fickle and quick to criticism that he boos someone without any justification whatsoever. I don't want to be subject to that kind of betrayal. The Celtic board is completely committed to supporting Gordon Strachan. As far as I'm concerned, what those fans did to Brian Quinn undermined the whole tradition of this club and also made it extremely unattractive for anyone considering putting money in, including myself. What I've always said is that, while I believe we are running this club well and responsibly, if the fans or any individual believes they can do a better job and wants to invest in the club, I would never refuse their funds. I've never heard the fans say 'Let's double the price of season tickets so we can use the funds to buy players'.'

Antti Niemi's agent Richard Cody says the player will be leaving Southampton following their relegation from the Premiership: 'There is interest from Celtic but a couple of Premiership clubs are keen on him as well.'

Harry Redknapp has warned Celtic they will have to pay at least £2m to buy Niemi: 'It is like everything else, if Celtic want him they will have to pay the price. It will take at least £2m. That's what the club paid for him from Hearts. He is one of the top four or five keepers in the country and won't be cheap.'

Saturday 4th According to the BBC, Celtic have had a second bid for Derek Riordan rejected by Hibernian. 'Celtic increased their £300,000 bid for Riordan, but Hibs want double that.'

Sunday 5th Swoop Guidi's 'exclusive' in today's Masonsport is that Bobo Balde is to meet new manager Gordon Strachan to sort his future at the club. Bobo's 'adviser' Michael Oliver apparently told Swoop: 'Bobo is on international duty in Africa but would like to meet the new manager as soon as possible. I see no reason why he will not be reporting back for pre-season training with Celtic at the start of July.' Gordon Strachan on Tuesday had claimed Balde 'must have a fear of leaving Celtic'.

Monday 6th The board have outlined possible plans to build new training facilities at Barrowfield but are not ruling out the possibility of relocating elsewhere. Peter Lawwell said: 'One option is to do something with what we've got at Barrowfield and the second is to go to a new site. A third option has just been put to us. The second option will take quite a bit of investment. We hope to make an announcement within the next two months. We spend £1.5m a year on youth development, so we have an academy, a structure but no top-class facility. Tommy Burns runs it and we'll just need to bring the facilities along that will match the quality of our coaches. The thing we'll take into account if we stay at Barrowfield is the whole area around us will be improved. Belvidere Hospital will be turned into houses. The new national indoor arena will be built near here. Also there will be a motorway link to the M74 built near our superstore and part of London Road will be turned into a pedestrian precinct. The subject's an irritant and it will be good for everyone once a decision has been made and we can get on with things.'

As expected, Rab Douglas signs for Leicester on a free transfer. 'Rab is an international goalkeeper who has played many games in high pressure situations in front of massive crowds,' Craig Levein told the Foxes website. 'Rab has taken a fairly substantial pay-cut to come to Leicester and that just shows his ambition.'

Wednesday 9th Stephane Henchoz's agent has confirmed the player will be on his bike at the earliest opportunity. 'Celtic have not been in touch so he will be leaving for sure,' said Jorg Vonmatt. 'Things haven't worked out for him for one reason or another (i.e. he was pish - Ed) and so he will definitely be leaving Scotland.'

Tuesday 14th Wolves complete the signing of Jackie McNamara on a two-year contract. The player allegedly turned down a late offer from Celtic and thus bring to an end 10 years with the club - although not before he had pocketed the proceeds of a testimonial. 'I want to play in the Premiership and as far as I'm concerned, Wolves are a Premiership club in the wrong division,' said the clearly confused former skipper. 'I gave Celtic an opportunity to sign me to a new contract but I was a little surprised and disappointed it took them so long. I told Celtic I was leaving and they spoke to me as I travelled down but I'd already given my word to Wolves. It could have all been started before the end of last season and if we'd started talking then, I don't think I'd be with Wolves now, two weeks before the start of pre-season. But it took them a long time to make me an offer whereas Wolves made me feel important to their plans, they showed a great interest. Once I gave my word to Wolves that was it. I was coming down for my medical and then I was going to sign. There's no ill will towards Celtic though. I have a great affection and always will have for the place and the people and the club itself.'

A statement on the Celtic website read: 'We offered Jackie a greatly improved deal and, contrary to reports, we offered Jackie a two-year contract. Naturally, we are disappointed that he has chosen not to accept our offer but this is clearly his prerogative to do so.'

Wednesday 15th Gordon Strachan denies that Jackie McNamara's move to Wolves was down to Celtic not doing enough to keep the player. 'Jackie was the first player I spoke to face-to-face after arriving here,' Strachan told the official website. 'I made it clear not only that I wanted him at the club but also what I wanted and expected from him over the next couple of seasons... He was more than wanted. Everything appeared to be progressing quite well in the discussions until, all of a sudden, we got a call on Monday to say that, if Jackie didn't get what he wanted by five o'clock, he'd be off. In the years I've had in management I can't ever remember a player setting a deadline like that. We reacted to it, even though the squeezing timescale was far from ideal, and agreed before the deadline to give him an increased offer. I thought that was it done, but then his agent came back asking for a lot more. Then we got a call at six o' clock on Monday to say Jackie would be signing for Wolves.'

Thursday 16th Big Bobo is back in Glasgow and has been attempting to iron out any misunderstandings that may have arisen due to his previous comments about wanting to join Bayern Munich: 'I have spoken to Gordon Strachan and I want to see what Celtic do. I was very interested in what the new manager had to say. I never said that I would be leaving Celtic; I just pointed out that I had other offers.'

Friday 17th With the revolving door at the Walfrid now spinning at top speed, the latest to fly out the way is Joos Valgaeren who has moved back to Belgium to sign for Club Brugge on a three year contract.

Saturday 18th Despite recent tabloid articles suggesting he might be about to follow Jackie McNamara's example, Neil Lennon has agreed a new one-year contract. He will also be made club captain when he returns from holiday to sign the deal at Celtic Park. 'I've never been lucky enough to have a player like Neil in any of my previous sides,' said manager Gordon Strachan.

Sunday 19th A slow day for the tabloids but the News of the Screws gives over two pages to Jackie McNamara's move to Wolves under the headline 'Lost Bhoys Crisis'. In case you were wondering when this summer's crisis was going to arrive it seems it already has.

Tuesday 21st Mo Camara becomes Gordon Strachan's first signing after agreeing a two-year deal. The 30 year-old Guinea left-back said: 'Celtic is an absolutely massive club for me. I know I am not from a big club and I am not a big-name player and that's why I'm desperate for the season to start, so fans can see I deserve this shot. When I heard about Celtic`s interest, I was willing to wait for a long time because, for me, coming here is like a dream come true,' said Camara, not wanting to lapse into cliche.

UEFA confirm that Celtic will be one of the seeded teams for the second qualifying round draw for the Champions League, to take place on Friday. Among other things it means that the Hoops will avoid holders Liverpool, who will be seeded should they progress from the first qualifying round. No doubt Liverpool will be breathing a sigh of relief about that.

The fixture list for the new season appears on the SPL's website today (24 hours earlier than it should have) and it reveals that Celtic will travel to Fir Park for the opening day fixture. As if that wasn't enough of a wind-up, Scottish football's chances of improving its UEFA coefficient are enhanced considerably by the scheduling of a Glasgow derby the weekend before the second leg of qualifying ties for the group stage of the Champions League.

Friday 24th Didier Agathe has been busy today putting some distance between himself and an interview attributed to him in a La Reunion newspaper called 'Clicanoo' (Transl. The La Reunion Daily Record) wherein the flying wingback is reported as saying: 'I have one year left under contract but I'm moved by a deep-rooted desire to discover new horizons. That opportunity was there for me on two or three occasions but Celtic changed their mind at the last minute. There was a deal done to take me to Valencia and I thought that was cut and dried. As for Juventus I had actually organised my house move. More recently there was an interesting proposition from Crystal Palace. Now I am practically under freedom of contract and negotiations in future will be much easier.' Agathe told the official Celtic website: 'I have never said anything like this and have no idea where it has come from. I'm very happy to be at Celtic and I'm looking forward to coming back for the start of the new season.'

Monday 27th The agent of Greek international Traianos Dellas says Celtic are keen on the out-of-contract Roma defender. Maurizio Tonicchi told the Evening Times: 'I have spoken to Peter Lawwell and Celtic are interested.'

Diary compiled by SAMUEL PEPYS-SHOW and HACKWATCHER

 

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