aug2006

ROSS Wallace and Stan Varga have joined Sunderland. The two players will join up with Roy Keane, who took over as manager of the Coca-Cola Championship side this week.

Wallace (21) has signed a three-year contract with Sunderland while Varga (33) rejoins the club three-and-a-half years after he left to join Celtic.

Ross Wallace made a total of 52 appearances for Celtic, scoring four goals, while Stan Varga scored 14 goals in 116 appearances.

Celtic Football Club wishes both Ross Wallace and Stan Varga the very best for their future footballing careers.

Celtic Football Club is delighted to announce that it has signed midfielder Thomas Gravesen from Real Madrid. Danish internationalist Thomas (30), has signed a three-year contract, with Celtic having the option of a further year Thomas said: "I am delighted to have joined Celtic, one of the biggest clubs in the world. When I was made aware of Celtic’s interest, naturally, I was very keen to talk to the club and now having spoken to the Manager, the Chief Executive and other people at the club, I am very excited about this move.

"I am eager now to get going and do all I can for Celtic. I look forward to meeting up with my new team-mates next week. The team did brilliantly last season to win the Championship and together we will be trying to retain the title and do as well as we can in the Champions League.

"I know other Danish players who have had the opportunity to play with Celtic and they have nothing but great things to say about the club. I have also visited Celtic Park for matches, where the atmosphere is tremendous and I am very much looking forward to playing there.

"I am aware of Celtic’s magnificent support and I will be doing all I can to bring as much success as possible to the club, for the fans to enjoy."

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan said: "Thomas has shown great desire to play for Celtic and it is very clear that he is looking forward to joining the club. He is a player with great ability, experience and character – qualities which could enhance any team.

"We are delighted to have secured his signing and we hope he will be a valuable addition to our squad."

And Celtic Chief Executive Peter Lawwell, added: "It is fantastic that we are able to welcome a player of Thomas’s quality to Celtic Park.

"Having spoken to Thomas, it is clear that he is for ready for the challenges which lie ahead. His passion for the club is incredible and he is extremely positive about his move to Celtic. We are sure he will be a great signing.

"Thomas is the third player we have signed in the last few days and the Board is delighted to continue to support Gordon’s plans for the squad."

Thomas Gravesen will be officially unveiled next week at Celtic Park, with further details to be announced.

Roy Keane will be charged with turning Sunderland's players into winners as their new manager.

The former Manchester United captain, who retired from playing with Celtic at the end of last season, is expected to replace chairman Niall Quinn in the dug-out for Monday's game against West Browich Albion.

The Molineux club's longest serving player departed after the two sides agreed a £600,000 fee.

As well as a much-needed boost to their coffers, Wolves also managed to capture Celtic youngster Charlie Mulgrew - a player which manager Mick McCarthy insisted be part of any deal.

Naylor had been offered a new four-year contract to extend his nine-year stay at Wolves including a testimonial but the understandable lure of Celtic and Champions League football weaved its magic.

"As I've said all along it's not really what I wanted to happen but when a player is out of contract at the end of the season it's probably good business sense," said McCarthy.

"It's probably good team sense as well actually, when you have a player who has done great for the club and then gets an opportunity like this.

"I fully understand his desire to move onto fresh pastures, he's had a damned good innings here and done well for the club so I've no problem over that.

"We carry on without him as we did on Saturday - the King is Dead, Long Live the King - when somebody leaves someone else comes in to take over."

The capture of 23-year-old Mulgrew - also a left-back - should soften the blow as McCarthy continues to overhaul his side.

Although he has never made a senior appearance at Celtic, Mulgrew impressed while on loan at Dundee United last season and was a target of St Mirren and Aberdeen this summer.

And it was a double celebration for him after his wife Vivienne gave birth to a baby daughter in the early hours of the morning back in his native Derry.

He had returned to Ireland for a few days in the hope of witnessing the happy event but was told he had to report back to East End Park yesterday morning.

But the Celtic-supporting midfielder acknowledged that netting against Rangers almost made up for missing the birth.

He said: "I sort of thought something might happen today but I thought it would be too good to be true scoring against Rangers and having a baby on the same day. It's what dreams are made of.

"The family are mad Celtic fans. There are a lot of Celtic fans back home so I'll be a bit of a hero tonight and I don't think I'll need to buy a drink.

"You'd always want to be at the birth of your child but this has sweetened it up a bit, getting a goal against Rangers."

Pars boss Jim Leishman said: "In a soft way, I'm really glad that he was the one to get the goal.

Lazio move for ex Celt Agathe ???????

Didier Agathe has left Torino after failing to agree terms over a contract.

The ex-Celtic winger failed to impress in Saturday's defeat to Serie C2 Cuneo and has left Turin today.

Celtic captain backs the clubs stance on Stan Petrov

Neil Lennon has backed Celtic's hardline stance against wantaway Stilian Petrov - and wants him to stay as "he's unstoppable in some games".

Portsmouth have had two bids for the Bulgarian rejected this summer and Martin O'Neill's arrival at Aston Villa means Celtic are bracing themselves for another attempt to prise him away.

Fulham, Blackburn and Middlesbrough have also been linked with Petrov - but Lennon hopes his club continues to reject all approaches for the 27-year-old midfielder.

"From our point of view we want Stilian to stay because he's such an influential player for us.

"When he's in the mood he's unstoppable in some games.

"If he stays, we have a very strong midfield with the likes of Stan, Shunsuke Nakamura, Aiden McGeady, Jiri Jarosik, Alan Thompson and myself.

"We have six or seven quality players and that's what you need.

"It's encouraging that the board haven't taken the first offer for Stan. You want top dollar for your best player and they are quite right to stand their ground."

Mo Camara’s time at Celtic is over and he’s returned to the Championship today, signing a three year deal with Derby County after looking set to become yet another Kevin Blackwell signing at Leeds United.

CELTIC supporters have been praised by Lothian & Borders for their behaviour at Sunday’s SPL match with Hearts at Tynecastle, with the overwhelming majority of fans taking on board Chairman Brian Quinn’s open letter last week, which urged fans to refrain from singing offensive chants and songs.

A Celtic spokesperson said: “The police have praised the behaviour of Celtic supporters at yesterday's match at Tynecastle.

“However, Celtic is by no means complacent with regards to this issue and we will continue to work with the police and footballing authorities to ensure that it deals with the small minority of people who may choose to indulge in unwelcome chants and songs at away grounds.

“It is widely recognised that for a number of years, the behaviour of supporters at Celtic Park has been excellent, with any offensive chants and songs being eliminated at home matches.

“Celtic will continue to treat this matter very seriously to ensure that this becomes the case at all our away matches.”

The Chairman’s open letter to all Celtic supporters urged them to continue to protect and enhance the good name of Celtic Football Club, something that has been built up over many years.

THIS Wednesday, August 9, Celtic will travel to London to play Chelsea in a pre-season friendly at Stamford Bridge. As always Celtic FC has the safety and well-being of their support as our highest priority.

The Club has worked closely with both the Metropolitan Police, Strathclyde Police and Chelsea FC to ensure that all supporters can enjoy this fixture in a safe environment.

Superintendent David Page, the Police Match Commander said: "The Metropolitan Police Service welcome the fans of Celtic for their match with Chelsea. We have been working hard with both Clubs and our Police colleagues in Scotland to make sure the game is an enjoyable event for all those who attend.

"My officers have been briefed to have a firm but friendly approach to both sets of fans. As with all games, the vast majority of supporters are at the match to enjoy good football and a match between the Scottish and English champions is a special fixture.

"Unfortunately there may be a small minority of fans who would wish to spoil the day for others. To them I would say that the Metropolitan Police will not tolerate disorderly or violent behaviour.

"To all genuine football fans attending this match, be assured that you will be welcomed in London. Please come and enjoy the spectacle."

Celtic will take approximately 3,000 supporters to the game. The Club has taken every precaution in their allocation of match tickets, restricting sales to season-book holders. We would ask our support to use all of their experience in attending away games to ensure their visit is safe and enjoyable. We would ask our fans to:

- Only attend the fixture if you are in possession of a match ticket in the area occupied by the Celtic support.

- Be aware that there is no car parking in the vicinity of the stadium.

- Please leave sufficient time to get to Stamford Bridge stadium in good time for kick off.

- The Police and stewards involved in public safety duties are there to assist you, please follow their directions.

- A number of Strathclyde Officers will be on duty in uniform in the stadium. Please do not hesitate to contact them if they can be of assistance to you.

Please have a safe and memorable trip.

CELTIC defender Adam Virgo has agreed a season-long loan deal with English Championship side, Coventry City.

The former Brighton and Hove Albion player, who joined Celtic at the start of last season, will move to the Ricoh Arena for regular first team football after failing to break into Gordon Strachan’s starting XI.

“Adam Virgo is going on loan to Coventry,” commented Gordon Strachan.

“He has got to start playing football now, that’s been a year without regular football and he has to get regular games.

“There might be another one or two who might be moving out on loan or moving out. But we will just have to see.

“If there is interest from elsewhere in some of our players we will be open-minded. If we think that it is beneficial for the club and for the player then we will look at it.”

Ex Celtic manager Martin O'Neill officially appointed as new Aston Villa manager this evening, his back up team will also be the folk he had with him at Celtic Park, the assistant manager will be John Robertson with Steve Walford taking up the coaching role.

Celtic jetted out to Japan today to take part in the friendly match against Yokohama F Marinos on Thursday. One of our member supporters club Tokyo CSC plan a very warm welcome for all the Celtic FC staff and players in the party.

The club relegated to the English Championship last season confirmed that the 21-year-old had arrived at St Andrews on Tuesday.

Wallace, who is a product of Celtic's youth set-up, has made 22 starts for the Scottish champions, as well as 26 appearances as a subtitute.

He was used as a stand-in left-back last season but appears to have fallen down Gordon Strachan's pecking order.