TTP Community - View Single Post

heanjob · 06-13-2005, 08:05 PM

A great servant leaving. Think I'd rather see Lennon go than Jackie.

Heanjob

Wolves lure McNamara

STEPHEN HALLIDAY

CELTIC captain Jackie McNamara will end his ten-year association with the Parkhead club today when, subject to passing a medical, he expects to sign for Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The 31-year-old Scotland international, who finished the season without being offered a new contract by Celtic, has agreed a two-year deal with the Molineux club.

McNamara's departure will come as a severe blow to new Celtic manager Gordon Strachan who, on his appointment as Martin O'Neill's successor earlier this month, expressed the importance of holding on to the services of a player who has been a mainstay of the club in recent seasons.

The Scotsman understands, however, that when Celtic finally offered McNamara a new deal last week, it was only for one year. It was immediately rejected and although Celtic came back to the table yesterday with a two-year deal, a frustrated McNamara had already given Wolves manager Glenn Hoddle his word that he would join the ambitious Coca-Cola Championship club.

"I never imagined my time at Celtic would end like this," McNamara said last night, "and I would have preferred to have signed a new contract with the club several months ago. It was really disappointing that didn't happen and disappointing that there was only a one-year deal on the table when it finally came.

I never imagined my time at Celtic would end like this. Wolves made me feel wanted

"I had always hoped to finish my career with Celtic but I felt I was in a position where I had to make a choice that was the right one for my family and myself in the circumstances. Wolves made me a good offer, they made me feel wanted and I was impressed with what Glenn Hoddle had to say. If the medical goes without a hitch, then I will definitely be signing for Wolves."

It appears there was an assumption, subconscious or otherwise, among Celtic officials that McNamara's services could be taken for granted but the club now find themselves losing one of their most consistent and effective performers as a result of their failure to offer him the extended contract his displays over the past two seasons unquestionably merited.

McNamara was one of the lowest paid first-team players at the club and, in fact, took a wage cut last year when he agreed a one-year contract. There was compensation in the form of a testimonial match for his decade of service, with some 50,000 attending the fixture against the Republic of Ireland last month, the day after he had captained the side to victory in the Scottish Cup final against Dundee United.

The player continued to express his hope after the match that his time with Celtic would be extended under new manager Strachan, who would have been the seventh he had served under since moving to Parkhead from Dunfermline in a £650,000 deal in October 1995.

Voted Player of the Year by the Scottish Professional Footballers' Association in 1998 and then by the Scottish Football Writers' Association in 2004, McNamara won four league championship medals, three Scottish Cup and three League Cup winners medals. He made 347 appearances in total for Celtic, a tally it was fully anticipated he would add to next season.

"It is hard to believe I am leaving the club," he said. "It's been fantastic to play for Celtic for so long and during such successful times for the club. The supporters have been great to me and it is a real wrench from that point of view but it came to a point where this was the decision I had to make.

"Wolves will be an exciting challenge for me. They are a big club and Glenn Hoddle is really ambitious for them. He is determined to win promotion to the Premiership next season and I hope I can help them achieve it."

McNamara, capped 30 times by Scotland, will join compatriots Kenny Miller and Colin Cameron at Molineux where former England manager Hoddle recently signed a new contract along with captain Paul Ince. Wolves finished six points off the play-offs last season and are providing the manager with the resources required for a return to the Premiership.

06-13-2005, 08:05 PM	#13 (permalink)
heanjob Member Joined: Sep 2003 Location: surrey Posts: 160 TTP Friends: (0)	Re: Scottish Premier League News 2005/06 A great servant leaving. Think I'd rather see Lennon go than Jackie. Heanjob Wolves lure McNamara STEPHEN HALLIDAY CELTIC captain Jackie McNamara will end his ten-year association with the Parkhead club today when, subject to passing a medical, he expects to sign for Wolverhampton Wanderers. The 31-year-old Scotland international, who finished the season without being offered a new contract by Celtic, has agreed a two-year deal with the Molineux club. McNamara's departure will come as a severe blow to new Celtic manager Gordon Strachan who, on his appointment as Martin O'Neill's successor earlier this month, expressed the importance of holding on to the services of a player who has been a mainstay of the club in recent seasons. The Scotsman understands, however, that when Celtic finally offered McNamara a new deal last week, it was only for one year. It was immediately rejected and although Celtic came back to the table yesterday with a two-year deal, a frustrated McNamara had already given Wolves manager Glenn Hoddle his word that he would join the ambitious Coca-Cola Championship club. "I never imagined my time at Celtic would end like this," McNamara said last night, "and I would have preferred to have signed a new contract with the club several months ago. It was really disappointing that didn't happen and disappointing that there was only a one-year deal on the table when it finally came. I never imagined my time at Celtic would end like this. Wolves made me feel wanted "I had always hoped to finish my career with Celtic but I felt I was in a position where I had to make a choice that was the right one for my family and myself in the circumstances. Wolves made me a good offer, they made me feel wanted and I was impressed with what Glenn Hoddle had to say. If the medical goes without a hitch, then I will definitely be signing for Wolves." It appears there was an assumption, subconscious or otherwise, among Celtic officials that McNamara's services could be taken for granted but the club now find themselves losing one of their most consistent and effective performers as a result of their failure to offer him the extended contract his displays over the past two seasons unquestionably merited. McNamara was one of the lowest paid first-team players at the club and, in fact, took a wage cut last year when he agreed a one-year contract. There was compensation in the form of a testimonial match for his decade of service, with some 50,000 attending the fixture against the Republic of Ireland last month, the day after he had captained the side to victory in the Scottish Cup final against Dundee United. The player continued to express his hope after the match that his time with Celtic would be extended under new manager Strachan, who would have been the seventh he had served under since moving to Parkhead from Dunfermline in a £650,000 deal in October 1995. Voted Player of the Year by the Scottish Professional Footballers' Association in 1998 and then by the Scottish Football Writers' Association in 2004, McNamara won four league championship medals, three Scottish Cup and three League Cup winners medals. He made 347 appearances in total for Celtic, a tally it was fully anticipated he would add to next season. "It is hard to believe I am leaving the club," he said. "It's been fantastic to play for Celtic for so long and during such successful times for the club. The supporters have been great to me and it is a real wrench from that point of view but it came to a point where this was the decision I had to make. "Wolves will be an exciting challenge for me. They are a big club and Glenn Hoddle is really ambitious for them. He is determined to win promotion to the Premiership next season and I hope I can help them achieve it." McNamara, capped 30 times by Scotland, will join compatriots Kenny Miller and Colin Cameron at Molineux where former England manager Hoddle recently signed a new contract along with captain Paul Ince. Wolves finished six points off the play-offs last season and are providing the manager with the resources required for a return to the Premiership.