Ange Postecoglou didn’t roll out the red carpet for Leigh Griffiths as he spoke to the media for the first time as Celtic manager.
On Thursday the striker will be out of contract, free to join any club that he wishes without any transfer fee involved.
Griffiths has been speaking to Sky Sports and BBC Scotland over the last week about his hopes for a new Celtic contract but less positive headlines were generated by Neil Lennon when he spoke to Radio Scotland.
Highlighting a lack of professionalism, coming back from Lockdown a stone overweight and other issues was certainly a breach of confidentiality from Lennon but the timing couldn’t be worse for the striker he signed from Wolves back in January 2014.
Postecoglou was at pains to point out the professional standards he sets which could be an ominous warning to Griffiths that his future lies elsewhere.
Asked about his talks and a new deal for the striker, the Australian said:
Yeah I’ve had a good chat with Leigh. He’s a player who’s done fantastically well for the football club over a number of years. He’s in the same place as everyone else so a lot of it will be dependent on them and then I’ll make it clear what I want to do.
I’ll make it clear the kind of football club we’re going to play, the expectations around that in terms of everything that’s involved in being a professional footballer. We’ll continue those discussions and if Leigh fits into that picture then I’m happy to bring him back. I’ll make those kinds of decisions when I have all the information I need.”
Should Postecoglou offer Leigh Griffiths another contract?
Yes, no brainer, best striker in Scotland
No way, he's had too many chances
While many of his team-mates have had a full week of pre-season training Griffiths hasn’t been spotted back at Lennoxtown.