KYLE LAFFERTY is one of the most disliked footballers by Celtic supporters in recent years. The ex-Rangers striker would play up to the Ibrox support’s loyalist denominator and infuriate the Celtic support, often by celebrating goals in front of them. However, when speaking to Si Ferry’s Open Goal, Lafferty has said that he spoke to Gordon Strachan about a move to Celtic back in 2008.
Strachan wanted to sign Lafferty and the Northern Ireland striker spoke about the meetings as WGS attempted to convince the Burnley striker to sign for the Scottish Champions.
“Obviously Celtic, massive club, the chance of winning trophies, cups, Champions League.
“It was difficult to turn down a club like that but I don’t think I would have been able to go back home.
“It just would have been so hard. I was in and about the Northern Ireland team, I was a young boy, an up and coming star in the team!
“I think it would have been hard for me and hard my family back in Northern Ireland as well, just with everything that came with it.
“I did speak to Gordon, Gordon rang me and spoke to me. He said ‘listen big man, Celtic fans hated me, but look at me now, they worship me!’
“No, he did speak to me, he said all the right things. But I couldn’t have done it.”
Strachan left the club at the end of that season and having been looking at players like Lafferty, he was perhaps eyeing the Celtic Park exit. The striker was not Celtic class and his behaviour in games against the club have proved that.
Lafferty flopped in a second spell at Ibrox and despite having a decent return for them, it was a blessing that Celtic never signed him. As Jock Stein said, “Celtic jerseys are not for second best, they do not shrink to fit inferior players.”
Elsewhere, Alan Thompson has claimed that Chris Sutton’s comments following the final day heartbreak in 2003 echoed that of the Celtic dressing room.
Alan Thompson reveals that all Celtic players agreed with Sutton's lying down accusation against Dunfermline | The Celtic Star https://t.co/AHnn1ab9P6
— The Celtic Star Editor – INVINCIBLE (@CelticStarMag) July 8, 2020
