Celtic seal deal for Hibs duo

[ogairbhith]

taken from the sunday herald

By Roddy Thomson


CELTIC have agreed a deal to take Hibs defender Gary Caldwell and forward Derek Riordan from Hibs next month.The Sunday Herald understands that versatile Scotland regular Caldwell will switch from Easter Road to Glasgow ahead of his contract expiry date. He had been expected to leave Leith in the summer anyway as the highest-paid player on Hibs’ books.
Riordan, whose deal does not run out until October, is due to accompany Caldwell west despite continuing interest from Anderlecht – and the addition of Tottenham Hotspur for last Sunday’s victory over Rangers.
While a combined fee for early release has not been established, sources on both sides of the M8 divide have confirmed a deal has been agreed in principal. The addition of Riordan to the deal – and negotiations are believed to be close to completion after talks last Wednesday – allows Hibs to move more purposefully in next month’s transfer window.
While Hibs fans, ecstatic at their dogged pursuit of Celtic and Hearts, will be disappointed the club is not keeping hold of Riordan, manager Tony Mowbray has already demonstrated a knack for making best use of such sacrifices – as with Grant Brebner’s disposal at the start of his time in Edinburgh.
However, Mowbray is determined he will not allow the Leith club to be plundered wholesale. He said: “Nobody will be pinching any of our players on the cheap. You can throw Derek Riordan and Gary Caldwell into that even though their contracts are running down.
“Maybe Derek’s goals might be worth more than the amount of money on offer? We’d have to weigh any offers up if and when it happened and see what we would consider a substantial offer for someone with so little time left on his deal.”
04 December 2005

http://www.sundayherald.com/53221

[mackie]

that is gr8 but will they get their game.

[redb34]

id rather see scott brown

[Murphy7]

Murphy, Whittaker, Caldwell, Thomson, Brown, O'Connor + Riordian all have great potential but I would rather see Scott Brown here.

[Eamonnhenrik]

would like riordan to come not sure about caldwell riordan is a good young striker bitter quicker than our more seasoned strikers ie big john and sutty

personally id also like to see scott brown at the club if i could pick just 1 hibs player

[markmu66]

lets just wait and see what happens eh!!mackie is right. why leave first team football to become a squad player?probably for the money!!

[mackie]

Originally Posted by markmu66

lets just wait and see what happens eh!!mackie is right. why leave first team football to become a squad player?probably for the money!!

but like martin said we are buying roirdan for future reference after big john and sutty go past their day.i am not sure about caldwell as du wei and virgo cant break in so i cant see the point.

[Magic_7]

I also like Scott Brown i think he could be our new Neil Lennon i like the way he plays and he got plenty of dig about him .

[mikeybhoy]

This is all Talk untill GS makes a statement or Celtic say that Riordan+caldwell are coming better just leaving it untill then bhoys but if they do come will they get a game+Everybhoy going on about Scott Brown Whats a matter with Paul Lawson Very good player i think

[derryduck]

What happenned to the Thomson deal?

[mikeybhoy]

Don't know m8 never heard anything about it m8

[stoogie 02]

Although I never believe newspapers until I see the player at CP, the Herald is one of those papers that doesn't deal in sensationalism, so I'm more inclined to believe this story has some truth to it.
Caldwell is a strange one as we seem to have plenty cover at centre half, maybe Du Wei will be sent back to China, Riordan will be one for the future, perhaps Strachan will use either Caldwell or Virgo as cover for Lennon, and Riordan could play on the wing.
Scott Brown would be a good long term replacement for Lennon, but I can't see Hibs letting him go cheaply.

[mafyoo]

I heard that on Clyde 1 this mornin on the way to my football quite good signings

[jazcelticfan]

I would like Whittaker, Thompson & Riordan from Hibs. I don't like Scott Brown, hes a wee wanker.

[flump67]

dont rate cadwell