Kelvin Wilson has admitted that he’ll leave Celtic with a heavy heart.
The defender is expected to join Nottingham Forest in the next few days to be re-united with his family.
Two seasons in Glasgow have created a lasting impression on the Nottingham bhoy who recovered from a patchy opening season to become Neil Lennon’s first choice central defender.
Wilson starred in Celtic’s thrilling 12 match Champions League campaign last season but faces a marathon programme in the Championship that can stretch to 49 league matches.
“I have one or two things to resolve and I’ve been in constant contact with the gaffer all week,” the defender explained after helping Celtic into the final qualifying round of the Champions League last night.
“He knows I am not looking to leave for football or financial reasons. If I am to leave it will be for family reasons which I’d rather not go into but it will be difficult to go, you just need to look at occasions like tonight.
“European football and the Champions League are massive draws and you just think back to last season but I am leaving for personal reasons and the boss understands that. The club want it resolved and I want it resolved sooner rather than later. So I expect the whole thing to be sorted out soon.
“Everybody needs to move on, even if I have to stay. But it looks like I will be leaving a great team.”
Looking back over his hoops career Wilson added: “I will take so many memories away with me if I am to leave. The group stage of the Champions League last season will live with me forever, so will the friendly against Real Madrid in America.
“People might look at me funny but the Rangers game at Ibrox when we lost 4-2 also stands out because I learned a lot about myself. There is no doubt I have learned and improved as a player here.
“This is a massive club and if I am heading back down south I am returning a better player.
“They are a great set of lads at Celtic and without a doubt they have enough quality to reach the group stage. I will be watching all the way, you can be sure of that, if I am not here.”
I won’t insult the guy by giving my opinion on his overall play…..
I will,however, thank him for his services…..and hope his family issues are resolved in a happy way.
Good luck big man.
Good luck big man, hope your future is bright and prosperous as you begin life at your old/new club.
Good luck big man family comes first always HH once a Tim always a Tim
Unless you’re Craig Burley, Andy Walker, Kenny Miller, le petite merde….H×2
Struggled badly at the start as a lot do new country etc but improved and became our best centre back IMO, deceptively fast,decent reader of the game and a calm influence on his team-mates, he lacked a bit of tenacity/strength to his game but I think the team will be weaker for his leaving
Comes across as a gentleman and a good pro in interviews,I wish him well
Would have much preferred Ambrose to be leaving as I think he’s in way over his head at this level. Even in the SPL he struggles against so called weaker opponents.
Same here Ambrose again had his usual bad game yesterday Please Lennon get ride of him Nice money for Wilson Hope we can spend it on a good player
Yep, I will echo the good wishes to Kelvin. He’s been a good player but not irreplaceable by any means.
As he says above he’s not leaving for football or financial reasons so let’s leave it at that. I’m sure he hasn’t made this decision lightly so all the very best big chap.
Good luck big man and thanks for your service playing for the biggest and greatest football phonomenon on the planet. Hail Hail
ATB Kelvin. Wasn’t his biggest fan and critical of his ball watching at times, but came onto a game towards the end of last season and seems to have started this one not too badly! He lived the dream, but I agree with Frank Mc, certainly not irreplaceable….
I liked the look of the big man and the way he played , maybe he didn’t realise his full potential because of his family circumstances. We will never know…
Good luck to him and thanks for the effort and humility you often displayed.
All you can ask of any player, or worker in any job for that matter, is that they work hard and improve at what they do and Kelvin has certainly done that.
I find it reminiscent of Cadette during the ‘three amigos’ affair.
While De Canio and big Pierre were chasing the money, the Bunnit would say holding the club to ransom, Gorge, or more than probably his mrs, just couldn’t settle in Glasgow, so Gorge made the decision for the sake of hs family.
Family come first, so I wish Kelvin all the best and every success in the future and hope he has nothing but kind words and fond memories when speaking of our glorious club in the future.
HH
Fair enough, well done and all that, but please don’t mug us off that you don’t really want to leave kelvin – I really appreciate the professionalism and respect you’ve shown to the club and the support by always being honest and doing your utmost no matter what – but i know Notts forest supporters very well and they have the a deep love of their club on a par with the supporters of Celtic. You are a forest man and you have to do what you have to do – god speed and I wish you well big man x
I would imagine that Virgil was bought as his replacement, hopefully a wee bit more assertive & dominating…..Now we need a balance with a more physical but pacey centre back as Ambrose is clearly lacking in this respect – He needs someone barking at him, keeping him focussed and sharp – something Forster should be doing as well.
A small step forward for me….but we need a top goalscoring threat – Stokes & Samaras simply don’t offer enough goals / chances created.
Thanks for your efforts Kelvin, we move onwards & upwards – your loss.
Wilson i would drop off at the airport for free.. can’t understand celtic fans making him out to be magic. Only offer to come in for him forest. That’s enough for me. Van dik will be 10 times the player and I would put Mulgrew with him and sell big iffy Ambrose he plays 1 in 4. Lowry from Millwall would be perfect at celtic as a centre back.
To be honest I am not that bothered about Kelvin leaving, he’s just one of a long line if CB’s that have been at best average. Bonus is we’re going to make money on him.
The days of having a Johan Mjalby, Paul Elliot or Mark Rieper seem so distant. My hope is that Virgil will turn into that mould and like a previous post I would like to see Charlie Mulgrew form a partnership with him.
It is a bit worrying that we have not turned out a decent CB from the youth set up since John Kennedy and arguably Stephen McManus.
Hail hail
Started well but his performance in the 2-4 game at Ibrox was a horror show of Iain Andrews dimensions. Also the LC Final vs Kilmarnock will not be making it into his highlights DVD
But deserves credit for recovering from that and certainly played consistently well last season
Good luck Kelvin
I for one feel he will b a loss to the club and am sad to see him go. Personal reasons? If the reasons given are good enough for Lenny, I’m fine with it. After a shaky start to his Celtic career, he has become our premier CB.I would love to see Charlie move back there and am keen to see how Virgil fares.
He must be mad. Leaving a CL last 16 team for a lowly/mid table championship club. All the best KW