31st August 2005

Du Wei Goes To Celtic

International Chinese defender Du Wei has joined Celtic on a six-month loan, although a permanent contract could be signed in January.

The deal is worth a potential $1.3 million but the Scottish club will pay Shanghai Shenhua the sum of $200,000 for the four-month trail period with the option of paying the remainder in January should both parties want to make the move permanent.

We made a big compromise on price just to better support Du Wei and let him have a better chance," revealed the club’s deputy manager Dai Chunhua, to AFP on Wednesday.

"The contract was signed and Du Wei already left China today," Dai said.

"The two-step contract helped Celtic reduce risks, because they don’t have a lot of knowledge about Chinese players. Actually, we need Du Wei quite badly, but we sacrificed our temporary interests for the sake of the long-term development of Chinese football."

The C-League team, currently lying second, originally demanded $1.7 million for the 24 year-old but settled for the unusual deal when the player declared that he wanted to move to Scotland.

Fixtures changes for September

THE SCOTTISH Football League has confirmed that Celtic’s forthcoming round three, League Cup tie will be played on Wednesday September 21.

The game, against Falkirk at Celtic Park, will kick off at 7.45pm and full ticket information will follow soon at www.celticfc.net.

The SPL has also confirmed a fixture amendment for September, with the game against Hibernian now being played at Easter Road on Sunday the 18th.

The match (which was originally scheduled for Saturday September 17) will kick-off at 2pm and will be broadcast live on Setanta Sports.

 

24th August 2005

Aliadiere ends Celtic nightmare to join West Ham
 

French forward Jeremie Aliadiere has ended his Celtic loan spell after just six weeks and joined English Premiership side West Ham for the rest of the season.

Aliadiere went on loan to Celtic for a year because he wanted to play in the Champions League but he made only two substitute appearances in his time north of border, both as a substitute against Artmedia Bratislava in the Champions League qualifying round defeat.

Aliadiere said: "I am very disappointed this has not worked out the way I thought it would."

The 22-year-old moved to Glasgow at the start of July after two years in the background at Arsenal.

But the move went sour when he found himself falling down the pecking order behind John Hartson, Maciej Zurawski and promising Scottish youngsters Shaun Maloney and Craig Beattie.

 

21st August 2005

Fulham after Petrov ?  

Celtic midfielder Stilian Petrov could be on his way to Fulham according to reports on Sunday. Chris Coleman is rumoured to be sitting in the walk-in safe at Craven Cottage counting out Stg4million to push in the face of Gordon Strachan.

The 26-year-old, who joined Celtic from CSKA Sofia six years ago, may decide it is time to move from Scotland to the Premiership. Steed Malbranque could be set to complete a move from Fulham to Stg24m-richer Lyon in the coming days and Coleman sees Petrov as an ideal replacement for the French playmaker.

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan has been silent on the reports, merely commenting: "We don't want to see any of our best players go."

 

12th August 2005

David Fernandez leaves Celtic

Celtic Football Club can confirm that David Fernandez has been released from his contract.

Earlier today he signed a new three year deal with Dundee United.

Everyone at the club would like to wish David the very best of luck for his future career.

 

03rd August 2005

Hoops out of Europe despite 4-0 win at home.

Celtic crashed out of Europe after beating the outfit from Bratislava by 4-0 at home last night.

Things will now have to start looking up in our efforts to get the place back on track despite being out of Europe this early in the year.

 

 

02nd August 2005

Celtic fans hoping for a clear victory by at least six or more goals.

Tonight's the night that Celtic fans will be hoping that the hoops get over the world media by creating something very special for the embarrassment in last week's incredible defeat by FC Artmedia Bratislava.

Our 5-0 defeat last Wednesday evening was shocking to Celtic fans Worldwide and if we can't overcome this we will be losing at 10million pounds as we crash out of Europe in two matches.

Celtic fans will once again be behind the team but to see them losing nine goals in just two matches is beyond belief, we are very hopeful for a complete turnaround but we will never know until tonight.