Monday 27th June 2005

9.15

FRENCHMAN TO MOVE TO HOOPS ON LOAN???????????

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has given Gordon Strachan his blessing to snap up French forward Jeremie Aliadiere on loan.

The Frenchman has confirmed the Celtic manager is attempting to strike a deal to sign the 22-year-old striker on a season-long deal.

Wenger said "It is a possibility. There are other clubs interested in him but it's fair to say that Celtic are the favourites.

"I would be happy for him to go to Celtic. He would have the chance of getting some experience of European football.

"I have spoken with Gordon Strachan but it's now up to the player so I can't say much more.

"We should expect his answer in the next week."

Thursday 23rd June 2005

22.00

CELTIC RETURN TO FIR PARK FOR START OF SPL FIXTURES

Celtic have been told they must begin the new campaign at the ground where last season's title dream sensationally died just two minutes short of glory.

The Gordon Strachan era begins in earnest on Saturday July 30 when the Hoops make the short journey east to Motherwell's Fir Park Stadium.

That was the venue on the final day of last season when Celtic, then under Martin O'Neill, knew that victory would see them clinch the title whatever rivals Rangers achieved at Hibernian.

A Chris Sutton goal looked to have made that a formality but two strikes from Well's Scott McDonald in the final two minutes handed the Bank of Scotland Premier League crown to Rangers, who had won 1-0 at Easter Road.

The last time the race had been that close was in 2002-03 when Rangers won on goal difference courtesy of a last day thrashing of Dunfermline.

Within minutes Sutton had bitterly claimed that he had known the Pars would ``lie down'' to Rangers - and the first game of the following season saw Celtic sent to Dunfermline, with the Englishman having been suspended for his comments.

Strachan also faces an early Old Firm derby baptism when he takes his side to Ibrox on Saturday August 20, although that match is likely to be moved to the following day for television coverage.

That is only the fourth fixture of the new campaign and will be a fascinating tussle against his former Aberdeen and Scotland team-mate Alex McLeish, who has won two of the last three titles.

The fixture list also features Livingston as a top-flight club despite the uncertainty surrounding their decision to play Hassan Kachloul as an amateur last term.

Relegated Dundee have contested this and are keen to have Livi deducted the points that would see the Almondvale club demoted to the Bell's First Division in their place.

But as it stands, Livi will kick off the new season as Rangers' flag day opponents at Ibrox, while Dundee are at home to St Mirren in a more low-key affair.

The game is also ex-Celtic skipper Paul Lambert's first game as Livi`s new boss.

Promoted Falkirk begin their return to the top table with a home game, with last season's surprise package Inverness the visitors.

UEFA Cup hopefuls Hibernian and Dundee United are both at home on the opening day, with Dunfermline due in Edinburgh and Aberdeen making the trip south to Tannadice.

Hearts, who are still without a manager, begin at Kilmarnock.

The first Edinburgh derby arrives even more quickly than its Glasgow equivalent as Hearts host Hibs on Sunday August 7.

Strachan's first home derby takes place on November 19 while the third of the four-game sequence is scheduled for February 11.

Tuesday 21st June 2005

20.00

Celtic's 1st signing of season 2005-2006

GUINEAN left back, Mo Camara, has this evening been confirmed as Gordon Strachan’s first signing for Celtic.

The 29 year-old full back signed a two-year deal at the club just after 7pm tonight and new manager Strachan believes that Camara will bring both quality and enthusiasm to his team.

With Polish striker Maciej “Magic” Zurawski also in Glasgow today to discuss a possible transfer from Wisla Krakow, it has been a busy day for Strachan, but the manager was clearly delighted to have clinched the signing of one player that he and his staff have watched for some time.

“We’ve had two (players) here today and as we know recently, it’s not easy just to get deals done” said the manager.

“But one (Camara) has now been completed and on the other (Zurawski), we’re still positive.”

When looking at Camara’s qualities as a player in particular Strachan revealed: “He’s got pace, he’s got enthusiasm, he’s got experience now, so he’s got that and he’s someone that, if you look at the files through here, Tom O’Neill’s been watching for a long time last season and Tom put a lot of positive ticks where the ticks were needed.

“Gary Pendrey has seen him a lot and Gary’s my assistant manager, I’ve seen him quite a few times and I think we’ve all come to the agreement that if we can sign someone of this quality on a Bosman we have to take it.”

Celtic’s Chief Executive Peter Lawwell added: “We are delighted that Mo Camara has signed for Celtic and we are sure he will be an important addition to the Celtic squad.

“We are hopeful that Mo will be the first of a number of new players to join the club over the transfer window.”

The signing of Zurawski has proved to be more complicated and Strachan will continue talks with the player tomorrow at Celtic Park.

“He’s not signed yet because it’s not that easy” revealed Strachan. “A lot of things have went well today, but when you are doing big transfer deals I don’t think anyone expects them to be done right away.

“Because before we got here today, contrary to the reports in the papers, there wasn’t an agreed fee, there wasn’t any personal terms done, he was coming across here to have a look first and he’s excited about signing for Celtic.

“But on the business side of it, it just takes a wee bit longer.”

Strachan also expressed his delight that midfielder Neil Lennon had committed his future to the football club and has pledged to put pen to paper on a new deal when he returns from holiday.

“We’re delighted” said Strachan. “He’s led by example on the football field, but I want all my older players to lead by example on and off the park and I am sure Neil is going to be a great leader.”

Friday 17th June 2005

23.00

Neil Lennon to stay on???????????

Celtic Football Club is delighted to confirm that Neil Lennon has agreed a new one-year deal with the club, which he will sign on his return from holiday.

The midfielder, 33, has been a hugely influential figure at Celtic Park in the four-and-a-half years since moving from Leicester City for £6 million on December 8, 2000, a transfer which came to rank among the most significant of Martin O’Neill’s five-year reign.

Lennon’s time in Glasgow hasn’t been entirely without incident or strife, of course, but his status as a firm favourite of the club’s fans is well established and confirmation that he’s to prolong his career at Celtic Park will be greeted with delight by those who’ve gladly grown accustomed to his steadying, authoritative presence at the heart of the Hoops midfield.

No-one, however, will be more thrilled than Gordon Strachan, whose admiration for the combative Irishman was made clear from the day on which he was unveiled as Celtic’s new manager.

“I’ve never been lucky enough to have a player like Neil in any of my previous sides,” Strachan said then. “We tried our best to make people like that, but it is a special type of player, a special discipline.”

Lennon, an ever-present throughout Celtic’s ill-fated Scottish Premier League campaign last season, will now return to the club he’s supported since boyhood aiming to add to his already-impressive current tally of 222 appearances in all competitions.

Friday 17th June 2005

23.00

Joos Valgaeren has left Celtic for Brugge

Belgian champions Club Brugge KV have signed Joos Valgaeren from Celtic FC on the day they agreed to sell central defender David Rozehnal to Paris Saint-Germain FC.

Valgaeren, 29, has put pen to paper on a three-year contract and arrives on a free transfer from Celtic. Previously with KV Mechelen and Roda JC, he spent five seasons in Glasgow, winning three Scottish Premier League titles and four Scottish Cups. The big defender, capped 19 times by Belgium, was also part of the Celtic team that reached the 2003 UEFA Cup final.