Scott Allan knew that his time was up at Celtic after Brendan Rodgers’ first pre-season friendly.
The midfielder joined Celtic from Hibs in August 2015 but barely featured under Ronny Deila’s rigid set up.
When Rodgers arrived it promised a fresh start for everyone with Stuart Armstrong and Tom Rogic transformed, becoming key elements of the Invincible squad.
Kris Ajer was converted from a midfielder into a central defender but when a change of position was suggested to Allan it led towards the exit door and a loan move to Rotherham where Alan Stubbs was in charge.
Covering Allan’s interview with PLZ The Sun reports:
From early on in pre-season, I had a good impact on Brendan. He took me into his office many a time, saying ‘I want you to stay here, you’re part of the plans’. I think he said to the press at times, ‘He’s not going out on loan’.
Then after one pre-season game, I think he wanted to play me in front of the back four. He kind of seen me in front of the back four as opposed to the behind the striker or further forward in the midfield. I know myself that wasn’t my best position. I like to play in a three in midfield, either as a No8 or behind the striker.
For me, when I open up with the ball, if you run, there’s a chance that you’ll get the ball. Anywhere from those central areas there’s more passes to pick and that’s where I think I probably do my most damage.
There were more twists to Allan’s Celtic adventure when he returned early from his Rotherham loan after Stubbs was sacked.
In 2017 he found himself out on loan to Dundee then switched to Hibs where he instantly hit it off alongside John McGinn with Neil Lennon in charge.
With his Celtic deal a few months away from expiring Allan agreed a pre-contract deal to return to Hibs in January but there was another twist to be played out when Lennon returned to Celtic with the midfielder committed to Easter Road in the summer.
