Celtic tried to hijack Rangers signing David Templeton. Then with cash-strapped Hearts, Templeton was offered to Rangers as they began life in the Third Division which resulted in the promising attacker eventually making the change across the M8.
Speaking to Open Goal, the winger revealed that he was at the Rangers training ground to meet Ally McCoist when he received a phone call letting him know that the Scottish Champions wanted to sign him.
“They tried to sell me and Ryan McGowan to Rangers. Both of us were in Murray Park. Gowser must have known as six months later he went to China for about £20,000 per week. That’s why he went to see Coisty to say he wasn’t signing.
“I met the gaffer. He was good and funny. You’ve obviously spoken to him and he is hilarious to be fair. Met him at Murray Park. I actually had Celtic phone me while I was sitting outside Murray Park. They wanted me to wait out my contract until the end of the season.”
Templeton was a tricky winger on his day, which resulted in Celtic’s interest, Although, it was probably unsurprising that Celtic did not want to take a punt on Templeton, who appeared to have underlying injury problems.
It’ll be no surprise that Celtic tried to mastermind a deal that involved getting a signing on a free, especially at that point of downsizing. It was estimated that the Ibrox club paid £700k for Templeton, where’s Celtic would have waited one more year to take the player for nothing.
Injuries plagued his time at Rangers and it resulted in the player retiring from professional football in November 2021. Templeton now plays for Drumchapel United.
