PINCHING PAUL IS PAY BACK FOR MO'S STUNNING MOVE TO IBROX

STEVE FULTON has hailed Celtic's dramatic swoop to prize Paul Hartley away from Rangers as "payback time" for their capture of Mo Johnston in 1989.

The Scotland international swapped Hearts for Parkhead after the Hoops topped their arch rivals' bid on transfer deadline day.

Fulton knows how Celtic and Hearts fans are feeling having played for both clubs during his career.

The former midfielder reckons the Hoops will be celebrating after avenging the loss to Rangers in the controversial battle to land Johnston more than 17 years ago.

Fulton said: "Maybe Celtic are due a payback for Mo Johnston.

"They came in at the last minute to snatch Paul away from Rangers so it reminds me of Mo Jo all those years ago.

"I'm sure a lot of Celtic supporters will take great heart in getting a player Rangers really wanted.

"That's obviously not the reason they went out and signed him but it's a great coup. Paul would have graced both teams and added a lot to them."

Rangers boss Walter Smith will be gutted having made Hartley a permanent fixture in his Scotland midfield.

But Fulton revealed the player, would have been praying for i Parkhead boss Gordon Strachan to come in and make his dream of playing for his childhood heroes come true.

He said: "I'm sure Paul will be delighted.

"He's already said he was a Celtic supporter so I'm sure the move suits everybody - apart from Rangers.

"I'd imagine if he is a Celtic supporter he would be quite glad and relieved they came in for him at the last minute. It will work out well for him. The big pull was being a Celtic supporter so he will be made up by that.

"They are an excellent club and if you had been brought up a Celtic supporter and knew all about the history and the size of the club I'm sure you'd be bursting to get there."

Fulton also expects Hartley not only to become a first-team regular for Celtic but actually improve the runaway SPL leaders.

He said: "I've no doubt Paul will be able to make the step up. He's been one of the best players in the Scotland side as well as one of the best players in the SPL.

"He took Hearts forward with the performances he was putting in and I'm sure he will do that at Celtic - and they are already a good team. It should not be that difficult for him - it's not as if he is moving country.

"Celtic are at such a high level now having gone so far ahead in the league and reached the last 16 of the Champions League.

"But Paul thinks he will be able to add something.

"I'd imagine he would bring goals to any team and that is an added bonus. He is a goalscoring midfielder and he has done that for Hearts and Scotland."

Hartley has had a hard time in recent months at Tynecastle but Fulton is in no doubt his hard work will pay off in Glasgow.

He said: "Paul is a very energetic player and will be busting a gut to show the Celtic fans what he can do.

"I'm sure he will want to go there and prove to the players, the fans and the coaching staff that he is worth the amount of money the club are paying for him.

"He'll give it his best shot to make sure it all works out. There's no doubt he will be a big success.

"He has been one of the best players up here and has proved he can play at the highest level.

"Also, he knows guys in the Scotland team and worked with people like Tommy Burns so he will fit in straight away."

Fulton reckons Hartley could not have dreamed of a better move.

He said: "At the start of last year it looked like it was the start of something big for Hearts.

"So at that time Paul didn't necessarily have to move elsewhere to further his career. They finished above Rangers last season but Celtic won the league and will win it by a mile this season. Most people would consider Rangers to be a bigger club than Hearts but they need to finish above them this season.

"Many people would say if you have any ambition up here you want to play for the Old Firmclubs.

"People talk about the Premiership and there are massive clubs in England's top flight but Celtic are easily bigger than three quarters of the Premiership. A lot of people don't really appreciate how big Celtic and Rangers are.

"They rival Manchester United for supporters all over the world - it's the history and everything that goes with them.

"They are a remarkable club - it wasn't until I left that I realised just how big they are.

"I was there as a schoolboy but now I know they are an incredible club."

Taken from the Daily Record