“Village Green Stuff” – Ryan Christie’s Bournemouth move is all about money and not football says Provan

Davie Provan hit the nail on the head, expressing a view that will be shared by many Celtic supporters when the former Celtic winger gave his opinion on Ryan Christie’s decision to leave Celtic to sign for English Championship side Bournemouth.

With just four months remaining on his Celtic contract, Celtic CEO Dom Mckay did very well in selling the Scotland international midfielder for around £2.5m but it’s not that side of the deal that has astonished the Sky Sports pundit, it’s the footballing decision taken by the player himself to leave a huge club like Celtic to play in a backwater site in the second tier of English football.

Friends Reunited. Stuart Armstrong and Ryan Christie. Photo: Richard Lee/Sportimage

Have a look at this video, it gives you an idea of the passion within the Bournemouth support and you can compare that to any one of thousands of Celtic supporter videos.

Provan didn’t beat around the bush when discussing this transfer on Go Radio, describing Christie’s new club as “village green stuff”. And when you join a club like Celtic, or Manchester United, Liverpool or Barcelona then you can talk about a long term affinity from afar but to say that about Bournemouth really is ridiculous.

Odsonne Edouard had the good grace to send out a video message thanking the Celtic support for everything over these past few years yet there’s been nothing at all from Christie.

“The big shock for me was Ryan Christie at Bournemouth,” Davie Provan said on Go Radio. “What is that about? Why did Ryan Christie leave Celtic to go to a club like Bournemouth? I mean it’s village green stuff down there. I don’t care how much money he is on.

“It’s 11,500 when the ground is full and they could lose 3-0 and get applauded off the pitch. Clearly, it’s all about money but to leave Celtic to go to Bournemouth is staggering.”

We’ve talked about this situation many times on here. Charlie Christie’s intervention last summer, when he had various moans and also stated that his boy had been overlooked as the Celtic Player of the Year (which went to Odsonne Edouard). Various parties from within the game stepped forward to talk up Christie, usually from the Inverness angle but there was seldom if ever any praise for or credit given to Celtic and Charlie indicated that England was the destination in his boy’s mind.

Photo:: Andrew Milligan

We went through last season with Christie appearing to be playing for himself, with that big move in mind. Maybe the Euros in the summer would provide a platform to impress but he got 45 minutes in the first game before being pulled by Steve Clarke and he wasn’t  played again as Scotland went out at the earliest stage.

Under Ange Postecoglou Christie at last appeared to have found a manager whose style was perfect for his 100 miles an hour endeavour but the lure of the bigger pay packets in English football proved to be too strong. He’s just along the road from his mate Stuart Armstrong, two players who played for Celtic but never really appreciated the privilege was theirs and not ours.

About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor, who has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

3 Comments

  1. Christie has always looked for The Cherries results because they tried to sign him when he was a wean,yet daddy has never taken him there for a holiday?One footed player,disruptive in the dressing room,along with others and has probably ended up at his level.Talking about freezing up here and looking forward to the sun in Bournemouth? Well seen he’s never been in Bournemouth in the winter season.Makes Govan seem more inviting……money,money,money..

  2. Robert Frampton on

    Provan what a knob he left for better football. Scottish football is below championship football standard

  3. I don’t see the problem and a wasted article, just like my reply..
    His heart was not in it, never developed.. Move on