SHANE DUFFY has revealed the role that ex-Celtic midfielder Paddy McCourt played in the signing of the Brighton and Hove Albion central defender. Celtic announced this morning that Duffy would join on a season-long loan and the 28-year-old spoke of the Derry Pele in an FAI interview about the move.
“Paddy has been great with me and I spoke to him a couple of weeks ago when it was starting to all happen.
“The career he had at Celtic and if I have half of that I would be delighted. Obviously he’s a huge role model in Derry and someone who played for Celtic and someone who I looked up to and still do. Paddy’s a great man and he had great words to say about the club.”
The 28-year-old is a hardened pro and he would bring a degree of experience and leadership to our backline. Duffy has Premier League experience and is an impressive signing for the club, allowing Lennon the ability to play 3-5-2 and giving someone that will put his body on the line for the cause. The added bonus for the club is that Duffy is a Celtic supporter and will know exactly what 10IAR means to the club and supporters.
Celtic need to pay £2m in a loan deal fee as well as the majority of the Derry-born defender’s wages. The club might hope that Neil Lennon’s powers of persuasion would entice him into a move to Glasgow on a permanent basis if all goes well.
