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Chasing their tail- Michael Stewart’s brutal verdict on Celtic’s deal with Griffiths

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Image for Chasing their tail- Michael Stewart’s brutal verdict on Celtic’s deal with Griffiths

Michael Stewart believes that the shambles that Peter Lawwell left behind at Celtic is the main reason that Leigh Griffiths has landed a new contract.

After a few weeks of solo training sessions shared on Social Media rather than reporting to Lennoxtown the former Hibs striker was given a new 12 month deal on Thursday, July 1.

Griffiths’ problems have been well documented, the striker admitted that he was a disgrace during Lockdown with Neil Lennon adding detail during a recent radio interview

Turning 31 next month things looked bleak for Griffiths but with a lack of alternatives there is every chance that he could be leading the line in the Champions League qualifier against Midtjylland in 17 days’ time.

In The Sun, Stewart writes:

RIGHT place, right time. How often has that been said about Leigh Griffiths’ goalscoring over the years?

Well, the same applies to the circumstances surrounding his new Celtic contract. Griffiths is lucky in the sense that his deal indicates where Celtic are right now.

Put simply, they are chasing their tail — and he has benefitted by getting this final chance. The opening Champions League qualifier is just over two weeks away and new boss Ange Postecoglou has a huge rebuilding job on his hands.

Celtic’s squad has been decimated, the captain has left and some of his best players want out. A new chief executive is in place, but there is no director of football or recruitment chief.

So should anyone really be surprised that Griffiths was offered an extra year by Postecoglou? They have a guy who is a proven goalscorer — but has had his share of fitness troubles over the last few years.

Had Celtic been better organised and had a structure in place for this summer, Griffiths could have found himself out the door.

Celtic travel to Wales on Monday to step up their pre-season work with three matches starting on Wednesday against Sheffield Wednesday.

The only new faces likely to be in the travelling squad are Liam Shaw and Osaze Urhoghide who both played last season for Sheffield United before joining Celtic on freedom of contract.

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