The Scottish Sun are running today with the biggest story since they broke the news that Maurice Johnston was signing for Rangers.
Written by Sports Editor Iain King, a long term friend of Kris Boyd, it claims that Celtic have tabled a £1m signing on fee and £30,000 a week offer for the Rangers striker!
There are plenty of ‘flyers’ around at this time of year but this article, the source and the names in it would certainly suggest that the interest is genuine.
The report claims that Peter Lawwell is behind the move which should certainly add spice to Thursday night’s public meeting arranged by the Celtic Trust.
‘Never say never’ is a cliched responce to even the most far fetched of stories these days but I’d be amazed if any online sportsbook will offer odds on Boyd modelling next season’s Celtic kit.
There are no quotes from sources or insiders but the fact that it has been written by the Sports Editor of The Sun means that this is no run of the mill story.
Boyd recently claimed that he had offers to join seven different clubs when his Rangers contract expires at the end of June.
Birmingham City appear to be favourites to sign the striker despite interest from German and Turkish clubs, working alongside Barry Ferguson and Alex McLeish would almost be a home from home for Ayrshire boy Boyd.
McLeish failed to convince Boyd to move to Birmingham last January as the extent of Rangers financial problems began to surface but has kept tabs ever since.
Boyd was offered a new contract by Rangers in January but has refused to sign up and is believed to be waiting to see what happens with Walter Smith’s future before deciding his own next move.
There are Rangers players and there are Rangers players with Boyd falling into the same category as Nacho Novo, Allan McGregor, Kyle Lafferty and Barry Ferguson- the type who could never be seen signing for Celtic.
In recent times Kenny Miller, Steven Pressley, Mark Woods and Barry Robson have all signed for Celtic after playing for Rangers but no one has moved directly between the clubs in over 100 years.
Kris Boyd seems a very unlikely candidate to break that taboo.
It wouldn’t seem outrageous to imagine Steven Davis or Pedro Mendes one day playing for Celtic, both players have conducted themselves well whilst Rangers players and refused to pander to the demands of the more fantatical supporters.
Boyd however is from a different mould entirely.
As a player he has no equal when it comes to rattling in goals against the low lights of the SPL- against any sort of quality opposition, or even the Celtic defence, he has failed miserably at every turn.
Walter Smith gave the striker one start in this season’s disastrous Champions League campaign which was one more than he’d been given in Rangers 2007/2008 Champions League campaign.
Boyd knows his limits as well as anyone. Working outside the penalty box isn’t his thing with his lack of pace badly exposed.
Amongst other factors the thought of Celtic splashing out £30,000/week for such a linited striker seems bizarre.
Over the last few years Celtic have specialised on signing Rangers transfer targets with Paul Hartley, Barry Robson and Glenn Loovens all opting for Celtic after interesting Rangers.
Signing Boyd directly from Rangers would certainly be a stunning PR scoop but unlikely to impress sceptical Celtic season-ticket holders thinking over renewing their tickets.
The story is certainly going to be a talking point, I’ve checked the date again and it’s still not April 1, the chances of Boyd being paraded in a Celtic strip is hard to take seriously, but never say never, except in the case of Celtic’s Kris Boyd!
Running in the same edition John Hartson articulates the main points as to why this story is surely a non-starter.
Hartson could have joined Rangers in September 2000 but after ‘failing’ a medical signed for Celtic less than a year later.
The Welshman quickly adapted to the special nature of a footballers life in Glasgow and reveals that Sir David Murray tried to sign him for Rangers whilst he was playing at West Brom.
‘Thanks, Mr Murray,’ Hartson replied, ‘but if you’d shown as much interest BEFORE I went to Celtic things might have been different. Not now’.
Amongst other choice phrases from BBJ he mentions
a) He doesn’t belong at Celtic.
b) He’d never be welcomed back to Ibrox if he pulled on a green and white shirt. He’d not be welcome at Celtic if he did.
c) Just forget it, Boydy.
d) Truth is, his life would not be worth living
“He would be off his bloody head to even think about moving to Celtic. His 127 goals for Rangers would mean absolutely NOTHING.
“I reckon he would be a total disaster in the Hoops.”
John Hartson’s thought’s on Boyd for Celtic
The entire motivation for this story is open to all sorts of conspiracies.
Is it to apease the Rangers support as Boyd moves on somewhere/anywhere other than Celtic?
Is it to increase the offers on the table for Boyd?
Are Celtic trying to gain some silly ‘revenge’ for the Mo Johnston transfer?
Whatever is going on I don’t see bookies likely to offer odds on Kris Boyd NOT signing for Celtic.
Nothing is beyond the pale after Le Merde dumped in his own nest and switched allegiance to the dark forces of evil. Boydinho for Celtic? Who knows-never say never! Miller would tell him how these things are possible, but a straight swap with no middle club arrangement? Not so sure. Hail Hail
At least it would be a Tim who broke Larsson’s record Joe-albeit after double the amount of games! LOL
You have a very dry sence of humour Eddie! Henrik scored twice against Celtic, once more than the SPL’s leading scorer has managed in eight years!
Glad to see you 1st in with the story Joe-Just frightened the life out my family back in Scotland when I told them. Hartson’s reposte was pretty direct. I am not sure about how I feel-don’t care about his current hunship but he doesn’t do it against the big boys.
Don’t mean to be rude but….BOLLOCKS.
Make it happen, Pistol Pete! I long for the day he bags a hat-trick against them at Ibrox while donning the mighty hoops of green and white.
God bless the Kilwinning Provo!
Complete non starter on so many levels. Bit of mischief played on behalf of his mate I think at The Sun. It’ll be a slow couple of weeks up to the World Cup & given The Scum’s penchant for printing rubbish, I fully expect “Benedict for Rangers?” reports tomorrow.
even idiots don’t sign their own death warrants.
It make’s a lot of sense to me,Samaras out Bhoydichenko in.I would play a front 3, with Bhoydichenko & Ra Ra Rasmussen in the box,with Ross McCormack(i wish) floating from left 2 right.
Watch the goal’s flying in!!!
Bring it on !!!
Hail! Hail!
Macleod etc…
Time to be grown-up CSC.
Boyd would be lethal as per if he signed for us. he is a goal machine in scotland! Im all for it!
I’ve managed to speak to a man in the know who says that there is nothing in this story.
Possibly some silly text messages growing arms and legs and before you know it a story is off and running
The producer of the original story in the Sun is a Rangers man. Bumping up his price? Who knows, but Skippy is a better player than him and we gave him the bump. Why take on a lesser player who’s allegiance lies elsewhere? Good for the close season chat and goss tho’-hence the Sun.