John Kennedy confirms Leigh Griffiths contract D-Day

John Kennedy has confirmed that Leigh Griffiths could leave Celtic in the summer on a free transfer.

In September 2018 the club announced a new four year contract that would keep the striker with Celtic until at least the summer of 2022.

Last night The Sun broke the news that unless Celtic take up the option of a further 12 months before April 30 Griffiths will be able to leave as a free agent. The report claimed that a further 12 months of salary would cost Celtic £1m.

After returning for pre-season training out of condition Griffiths has been unable to get a regular place in the team, his start against Falkirk last week was his first since the home defeat against St Mirren in January when he was substituted at half-time.

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The situation, it’s like a lot of players’ contracts, the last year can sometimes be an option year.

So you find that some players might sign a three-year contract with a year option at the end of it and that’s where Leigh’s at with his so there’s an option to end it this year, but again this one of those decisions that will have to be made and that will be between Leigh and the club.

It will remain private until it’s decided but again that’s something we just have to think about moving forward. The club will have that discussion with Leigh but that’s how the situation is, I can’t say too much more on it.

Griffiths did work his way back into the Scotland squad in November, coming off the bench to score in the penalty shoot-out win over Serbia but last month he was left out by Steve Clarke who gave debuts to Che Adams and Kevin Nisbet.