Pressley turns down Charlton and takes his chance at Celtic

Ewan Murray
Saturday December 30, 2006
The Guardian

Steven Pressley yesterday admitted that starting 2007 as a Celtic player has come as much of a surprise to him as it has to neutral onlookers. The former Hearts captain has signed an 18-month deal at Parkhead.

Pressley, who departed Tynecastle in controversial circumstances last month after a dispute with the majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov, said he had believed he would finish his career at Hearts but that he is now fully focused on lifting the title at his new club. "I have been forced to make a football decision and it will certainly be strange going back to Hearts after 8½ years there," the 33-year-old defender said. "This would have been a shock to me if anyone had mentioned it even two months ago - I thought I was destined to finish my career as a Hearts player. But I'm looking forward to the challenges and I have a lot to prove."

Charlton Athletic were on the verge of taking Pressley, who has also played for Rangers, Dundee United and Coventry City, to the Premiership. Yet the defender turned down a "significantly better" deal at The Valley to link-up with the Celtic manager Gordon Strachan for a second time. The pair played together for a brief spell at Coventry City in 1995.

"Charlton are a very good family club who are wonderfully run," Pressley said. "I think they have chosen the right man and a very persuasive manager in Alan Pardew, but at this stage in my career I want to win things and they have a relegation battle on their hands."

The Scotland international, who claims he has "three or four" years left as a player, added that he is looking forward to the prospect of focusing on playing after suffering after speaking out about the turbulent regime at Hearts.

"My most enjoyable times at Tynecastle were when my sole concentration was on playing and I'll certainly get that opportunity at Celtic," he said.

Strachan could not hide his delight at signing a player who brings much-needed experience to the Celtic squad, despite being cup-tied for the remainder of the club's Champions League campaign, and back-up to a defence which was been ravaged by injury, most recently when Bobo Balde broke a leg against Dundee United.

"I think anybody who knows football knows what kind of player we are getting," Strachan said. "I've known Steven since he was a kid and he has got better and better. He has worked hard. He is an exceptional leader and a presence, not only on the field but also in the dressing room."

Pressley will be available for the first time when Kilmarnock visit the East End on Tuesday and after Kenny Miller he becomes the second former Rangers player in the Celtic squad.

The Rangers manager Paul Le Guen, meanwhile, issued a thinly-veiled warning to his under-performing players, that they will be sold during the transfer window if results do not improve. Pressure is building on the former Lyon coach after Wednesday's demoralising defeat at Inverness Caley, and the Frenchman now appears willing to replace members of his squad.

"We must not be afraid to have competition between players and nobody is safe," said Le Guen, who led Lyon to three consecutive titles. "They must be able to cope with competition that exists and may exist. The players must be aware that I want more from them."

Taken from the Guardian/Observer