Celtic may be able to sign Luca Connell without having to go through UEFA or FA legislation.
The Bolton midfielder was pictured at Celtic Park today with his parents in the company of Peter Lawwell with the player admitting that it would be an honour to play for such a massive club.
The 18-year-old is on a Scholar contract but regularly went without wages in the season just past.
When the players weren’t paid their wages in April they again went on strike with the home match against Brentford scheduled for May 3 postponed with the Football League unable to play the match. On May 13 the football club went into administration.
LUCA CONNELL AT CELTIC PARK ? ???? pic.twitter.com/injgHtv53D
— LARGS BRIGADE (@LARGS_BRIGADE) June 27, 2019
Having broken the contracts of the players in terms of paying wages it’s difficult to see how a player can be held to that contract while they have an offer of employment, and regular payment elsewhere.
On April 26 the Bolton players issued a statement on the PFA website explaining:
The long-running financial crisis at our club has been well-documented. As has the fact that we, the playing staff, have yet to receive our March salaries. Five of our coaching staff are also yet to be paid for March.
We have endeavoured to continue our training and playing commitments during this extremely difficult time, with seemingly no resolution in sight.
We thought that the prospective takeover of the club would provide a solution, but difficulties in its completion have left us no further forward.
This situation is creating mounting mental, emotional and financial burdens for people through no fault of their own. The mental pressure has affected some people to the extent that they feel they are unable to perform their jobs sufficiently.
These are unprecedented circumstances and are affecting every aspect of our lives, placing great strain on ourselves and our families.
During this time we have remained patient in hope of some explanation but information from the club has been extremely limited and very confusing. What we have been told changes constantly.
With deep regret, we have decided not to fulfil our remaining fixtures unless we are paid. We understand that this will disappoint our fans and for this we sincerely apologise.
We realise this may be seen as drastic action but we feel we have no other options left. This decision has not been taken lightly and is not a reaction to this one particular incident.
We have suffered numerous issues this season, and recent seasons, brought on by the mismanagement of this club. We have been operating in a near untenable environment for some time and it is the accumulation of these issues that have resulted in our decision.”
Connell made 12 first team appearances last season for Bolton.