Craig Gordon’s six year stint with Celtic looks like ending on a sour note following the keeper’s interview with TalkSPORT tonight.
The parting of players and clubs is rarely achieved on wholly amicable terms but this time it looks like being messier than need be.
Gordon and Celtic have been great for each other. The keeper provided an ‘over-ready’ replacement for Fraser Forster after Celtic had banked £12m from Southampton. In return he got a route back into football and a cupboard full of medals with six SPL/SPFL winners medals including five in which he had a key role.
When Celtic returned from Dubai in January 2019 things changed, Scott Bain was the new number one. When the former Dundee man got injured in August Gordon was presented with a reprieve but it was brief with Neil Lennon reunited with Forster.
No one knows what goes on behind the scenes at football clubs. Sentiment and emotion don’t come into it, football is strictly business with Celtic and Gordon acting in self-interest as you’d expect.
Rather than go public Gordon could have negotiated with Celtic and Hearts, made his decision and if it was to Tynecastle then player and former club could have thanked each other for six memorable years.
As it stands a cloud now hangs over Gordon. His reaction at the final whistle in the 2017 Scottish Cup Final won’t be forgotten but his recent comments mean that he leaves Celtic under a cloud.
The Invincible players will be remembered much more fondly than their manager, it’s just a pity when the copybook is blotted with needless departing comments.
? “I am in talks with Hearts.”
? “They’re my boyhood club.”
?? “Negotiations with Celtic haven’t been good. There’s still chat to be had
Craig Gordon tells @DavidTannerTV he’s in talks to swap #CelticFC for #Hearts. pic.twitter.com/bOyD6hFdKK
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) June 22, 2020
Surely that spells the end of Craig Gordon’s time at Celtic. https://t.co/CkiYwrKdXw
— Odhran Crumley (@odhranc14) June 22, 2020
So possibly going from Top of the Tabke Champions, to Bottom of the Table Relegated Hearts, talk about epic falls.
— Another Season Another Treble (@anthony19641888) June 22, 2020
Craig Gordon has been a great servant for Celtic, but is not good enough for the first team today. If he wants to play first team football, he goes with my blessing as long as Celtic sign two GK’s (with one hopefully being Forster).
— James Anthony Patrick Bundy (@jamesbundy) June 22, 2020
Lots of abuse for Craig Gordon on my timeline. Sometimes I despair of our “supporters”.
— Arthur Trubshaw (@OllytheG) June 22, 2020
Hearts!!! You off your nut???
— Paul Mcgivern (@Mcgivern2Paul) June 22, 2020
A snide guy who isn’t half the keeper he thinks he is. So glad it looks like he is finally leaving Celtic.
— Miserere Mei (@MiserereMei1) June 22, 2020
Surely the money Celtic are offering, even on vastly reduced terms would still be a lot more than what Hearts or any other Scottish team could afford? Quite rightly Celtic aren’t going to pay him what he was on given his injury history and the fact he’s no longer no1 choice.
— RGT (@Paphos_16) June 22, 2020
37 year old Craig Gordon who played a grand total of 6 games last year. Greeting at a contract offer from the club who took a chance and saved his career? You’re lucky there was an offer at all. Catch ye ??
— Stevo T (@Stevo____) June 22, 2020
Craig Gordon owes Celtic nothing, came in on a free deal and done excellent for majority of his time. At the same time Celtic owe Craig Gordon nothing either, gave him his chance back in big time football. If it doesn’t suit either party or stay cut ties and just move on.
— Ryan Tinney (@TinneyCFC89) June 22, 2020
Craig Gordon has been a great GK for us and an influential character within the dressing room, but his time has come to move on, you could also see him in the backroom staff along with Robbie Neilson at Hearts if he decides to hang the gloves up. @CelticFC
— Gerard (@G3WRD) June 22, 2020
