New Contracts

Dubsbhoy · Nov 6, 2004

FOOTBALL: NEW DEAL FOR HARTSON Nov 6 2004

By David Mccarthy

JOHN HARTSON has played his way to a new contract offer from Celtic just days after fearing he'd be forced out of Parkhead.

While boss Martin O'Neill draws up anew deal to put to the Welshman,he is also predicting troubled Brazilian World Cup winner Juninho will still bea sensation in Glasgow.

Hartson, who is out of contractin the summer, revealed on Wednesday that he may be forced to look for a new deal elsewhere as Celtic hadn't made him an offer.

But O'Neill,who last month stated that the striker had to prove his fitness after two back operations, last night insisted Hartson has done enough to persuade him to keep him.

The Parkhead boss said:'John has made it clear that if everything is right he wants to stay.And his performances in the last few weeks when he has been desperately needed - with Chris Sutton and Henri Camara missing and Craig Beattie recovering from a groin problem - have been terrific.

'In the type of form John Hartson has shown,would we not want to keep him? Absolutely we would.

'He has stepped right up to the mark and has been brilliant.

I have had ongoing conversations with his agent Jonathan Barnett and the last one was not long ago. The fitness element was discussed and John has taken it on board.'

O'Neill revealed that Hartson has worked like a Trojan to regain his fitness and reckons that a below-par performance for his country against England was the catalyst.

The Irishman said: 'John came back from the second operation pain-free but took a lot longer to get properly fit.

'When he played against England and did not do himself justice,there was a realisation that he would need to get even fitter - not just to earn a contract but to play at a decent level of football for a number of seasons.

'He's gone into our physios and they have come up with a plan that he is sticking rigidly to. He is working in the afternoons, he is going to the gym and he is reaping the benefit. It's great credit to him.

'Another thing is the leadership he has shown. Perhaps before,he tended to stay in the shadow of Henrik Larsson.

'Yet John's ratio of goalscoring to the number of minutes on the field was as good as anybody's at any time here. If you are asking me if John is putting himself forward for a contract - absolutely.

'Like most players, he would want it sorted out quickly. But there is a number of elements like the length of contract and finance but I am hoping these things can be sorted out sooner rather than later.'

As for Juninho, O'Neill insisted he had no problem with the Brazilian complaining about being left out of the midweek Champions League match and not getting on even when Shakhtar Donetsk were reduced to nine men as Celtic won the tie1-0. But the South American's manager, who revealed that the player has told him he finds it tougher in the SPL than in the English Premiership, is adamant that Juninho will come good long before the end of the season.

He said: 'I would be extremely upset if Juninho had come out and said he could not have done any more in that team.

'When I look at players warming up, every one of them looks me in the face and tells me he wants to play. I see it in Juninho's face all the time. I'll be amazed if his contribution this year is not terrific.

'He has to go and get into the side and play.He has told me he has found it awee bit difficult but have I lost faith in him? Absolutely not.

'I have no doubt he will come and show his true worth here. I took great heart from his wonderful run and making of the goal for young Aiden McGeady against Motherwell.That gave hima great lift.

'Once Juninho gets his confidence up again,and that comes from playing well and making things happen for us,he will be fine. 'But it was my decision not to play him in the Shakhtar game and to replace him with McGeady who did excellently for us.'

Meanwhile,Celtic's future hopes received a boost today, with seven of their promising young players signing new contracts.

Scott Cuthbert,Michael Gardyne,Charles Mulgrew, James O'Brien, Craig Reid and Ryan Conroy have signed until the end of 2008.

And Ross Harris has accepted a contract until the end of June 2006.
Click to expand...

Good news for the youngsters and i hope BJH puts pen to paper too our squad is thin enough as it is and to loose big john for nothing with the amount of goals he's scored for us would be a shambles.

BB · Nov 6, 2004

Totally agree about hartson..at least hes got a bit of fire about him...we need more like him who want to play for Celtic..and he can put it about a bit which is needed these days..

Glad all the youngsters are signed up as well..hopefully we can start bringing them through and then see who is the real deal..

hoopsbhoy4life · Nov 6, 2004

yes hope bbj signs on again bigman is playing well just now also herd on the radio on the way to the game today they have finally let bobby petta go cant say he'll be missed even with things as bad with injury's he still could'nt get a game

Celtic Mad · Nov 6, 2004

I hope so too. He has really impressed me this season. And to say he wants to see his career out at CP with us is really nice to say.

Dubsbhoy · Nov 7, 2004

Bobo in talks too, hope all these contract signings are not used as an excuse not to buy new players.

Celtic_Babe · Nov 7, 2004

Yeh dubs I was thinking of that!! But somehow I think it will turn out to be ture

Who are we rumoured to be after in Jan?

Celtic Mad · Nov 7, 2004

dubsbhoy said:

Bobo in talks too, hope all these contract signings are not used as an excuse not to buy new players.
Click to expand...

Exactly what I'm afraid of happening too, but I also think this will come true.

Havn't heard many rumours yet CB, thats a surprise!

Dubsbhoy · Nov 7, 2004

here's a laugh

Steve McManaman
Fernando Morientes
Thomas Gravesen
James McFadden
Gary Naysmith
Julio Arca
Nigel Quasie
Darren Fletcher

8 names mentiond i predict we will sign nobody.

Celtic Mad · Nov 7, 2004

These rumours are just getting out of hand now.

BB · Nov 7, 2004

any of those 8 would be a bonus.......although not too convinced about quasie yet...seems i watch different Scotland games to the commentators who say he is great...

but hey..a player is a player if it comes to him or nobody...

Dubsbhoy · Nov 12, 2004

scratch arca from the list

Julio Arca has signed a 2 year extension to his contract with Sunderland.

Arca has been linked with Newcastle and Celtic over recent months following delays over him signing a new contract.

The reasons for the delay are thought to be down to wages. He is very much a fans' favourite, and has two more seasons with Sunderland, and if we're not in the premiership by then, then it looks likely he could move on.
Click to expand...

New Contracts

Dubsbhoy Banned!

BB Banned!

hoopsbhoy4life

Celtic Mad Administrator Administrator

Dubsbhoy Banned!

Celtic_Babe

Celtic Mad Administrator Administrator

Dubsbhoy Banned!

Celtic Mad Administrator Administrator

BB Banned!

Dubsbhoy Banned!