Bad Blood in the Boardrooms! The reason Scott Allan is not playing for Hibs tonight?

HIBS caretaker boss Eddie May has provided some additional insight into the rather strange decision taken by Celtic to hold onto Scott Allan rather than let him leave to sign for the Easter Road club in the January transfer window.

Allan hasn’t kicked a ball in a competitive game since playing while on loan at Hibs last season in their 5-5 draw with the Rangers on the last day of the season.

The 27 year old signed a pre-contract to return to Hibs at the end of this season and it was widely predicted that Allan would make the move in January as there seems to be little to no chance that he’ll get anywhere near the Celtic first team.

Now though with Celtic enduring an injury crisis that Assistant Manager Chris Davies noted the other day, could see them naming a decent side of injured players in a 4-4-2 formation, May reckons that Allan could yet get a look in.

“If Scott was at Hibernian, which he will be in the summer, he’d be a main player,” May noted in his media conference ahead of the visit to Celtic Park this evening.

“But he’s hardly featured in a squad, never mind a team at Celtic, that’s the quality they have got.”

May’s insight into the transfer attempt is interesting, especially when put into the context of the ‘bad blood’ that seems to exist between the two boardrooms at Celtic Park and Easter Road after the John McGinn transfer stand-off last summer.

“We were really disappointed we couldn’t get something across the line. But we have to be respectful of Celtic who wanted to keep him,” May said, rather diplomatically – maybe “didn’t want to sell him to Hibs” would have been more accurate with a wee “Get it right up ye, Petrie,” added at the end.

On the prospect of Allan getting some game-time tonight, which seems unlikely to say the least, May reckons the Hibs bound midfielder would do his best.

“If he plays l would expect him to do really well. He is a professional guy and he’ll want to showcase his talents.

“So we’ll have to try and counteract that and stop him playing.

“At least we know all about him. We know him very, very well.

“He is unfortunate that Celtic have so many good players in that area that Scott hasn’t been given the chance he thinks he deserves.

“Any player just wants to go and play football and you be respectful of the team you are playing with at that moment in time, that’s why you are a professional.

“So if Scott is to play he’ll do his utmost to get Celtic the three points.”

Is there a chance that Scott Allan could make the bench tonight?

Last month, Brendan Rodgers gave his views on Scott Allan as we reported on The Celtic Star.

“Scott’s a great guy who trains every day, works hard and is professional. But he’s been unfortunate he hasn’t been able to play,” Brendan said.

“That’s really been through no fault of his own. The players have just been at a level and form.

“Scotty is probably at the age where he wants to play. He knows he has the talent to play in most teams.

“We have a plan for all the players and we sit down and talk regularly in terms of what’s going to be in their best interests and the interests of the club.”

It seems that the interests of the club meant that Scott Allan was retained to see out the last few months of the season.

And the message from The Celtic boardroom to the power brokers at Easter Road was one of ‘don’t get mad, get even’….with the final result being this.

Petrie 1 (McGinn) Lawwell 1 (Allan)

He who laughs last…