Joe Ledley: I thought I would stay at Celtic

Joe Ledley: I thought I would stay at Celtic

LINK http://www.southlondon-today.co.uk/Sport.cfm?id=5946

JOE Ledley has revealed that he was all set to sign to sign a contract extension at Celtic - but that the Scottish giant’s decision to accept a bid from Crystal Palace told him it was time to go.


(Really Joe? you saying it was down to the club that you did not sign an extension before the last day of the window?)



The 27-year-old midfielder made the move to Selhurst Park on the final day of the January transfer window. He jetted in from Glasgow to pen a deal until the summer of 2017.
Ledley was inside the final six months of his contract at Celtic, where he won the SPL title twice and the Scottish Cup once. But the Cardiff-born midfielder admits he was leaning towards staying.


“There was a contract offer there and I was just weighing up my options,” he explained. “Not long before in January I’d said to some of the boys I was going to re-sign. Then a week later I’m signing at Palace. That’s football.



( so you were the one weighing your options, not the club delaying in providing a contract to sign)


“I was sat at home and my agent rang and said a bid had been accepted and it is down to you to talk to them. At first I didn’t know what to think. But if a club has accepted an offer then it is time to go. Your mind is sort of made up. I ended up coming down and speaking with the gaffer. I felt it was a fantastic challenge. They sold the club to me. I thought it was time to go and play in the Premier League.”



(perhaps if you had actually put some effort into signing the contract instead of weighing your options the club would not have been forced to accept any offers)





“It was difficult for me to leave Celtic. I’m not going to lie. It is a fantastic club. I had everything there. I’ve got great memories and it will always be in my heart.


there is more in the full article but Joe is trying to say he left because Celtic accepted an offer ... well i may have been born at night Joe, but it wisnae last night...

 

He could easily have signed here than go down south. Just because we accepted a bid didn't mean we didn't want to keep him here.

I'm gutted he left still tbh. One of my favourite players for Celtic in recent years.

 

Weighing up his options? Meaning seeing who came in for him in January before signing a new contract.

If he would of signed a contract earlier Celtic wouldn't have had to accept an offer.

I loved Joe when he played for us, had nothing but praise for him, but this article seems like he is trying to blame Celtic for almost 'kicking him out' of the club. Which in my opinion, it was anything but.

 

Joe wants his bread buttered on both sides, he came to Celtic on a free and got a large signing on fee and reportedly good wages . When his contract was up he did what he was entitled to do and looked to get a better deal. Apparently Palace didn't offer much different to Celtic but as the window was closing and he wasn't sure Celtic would keep their offer he accepted the Palace offer but at the same time wants Celtic's fans to think that he really would prefer to still be at Celtic .

 

Lennon said they had accepted a bid for palace but the contract was still on the table so the ball was in his court. It was his choice to make.

What did he expect celtic to sit there and let the contract run out for him to leave for nothing??

Think he expected a better team to be coming in for him but THATS FOOTBALL for you !!

 

We need to stop putting the blame on Ledley here. We don't know what our contract offer was so maybe that's why he was weighing up his options.

 

when I read that the first thing that struck was bullshit !!!!! he had plenty of time to sign if he really wanted .

 

Exactly.

Lawwell was probably expecting him to take a massive wage cut. Wanyama and Hooper said similar things to what Ledley said here if I remember correctly.

 

In his own words 'he was going to accept celtics contract' He told some of the 'boys' but made no indication to the celtic board?? Couldnt have been that bad.

he was weighing up his options because he was hoping for a big money contract to a 'decent' team in the epl. Unfortunately for him he moved to crystal palace. Next year championship

 

He was stuck in two minds and the lure of the Premier League was too big to turn which is fully understandable. No point moaning about him or the club now it's done and dusted, just wish Joe the best of luck and thanks for the great memories

 

Joe is good Bhoy, Celtic accepted an offer for a player whose position had a lot of cover. I am sure we wouldnt let him go if he was needed here badly.

 

Is there any actual evidence of that?

 

I don't think Lawwell would be that stupid to try and expect him to take a wage cut?

It doesn't make sense.

 

I think it was the right time for him to move on. The team is evolving with the likes of Biton and Johansen starting to impress people. The move was good for both the club and Joe.

 

What do you expect the club to do on the last day of the window ? There is about 4 months left of the season, less even ? The league is wrapped up. If Ledley is on the £30,000 a week as reported the club would have saved £600,000 in wages not to mention whatever transfer fee we brought in. Probably even some money in loyalty payments.

 

As much as I love the man
He's talking outa his hole

 

I couldn't care less about Ledley anymore, as Spell says, we've got young talented midfielders like Biton and Johanson to compensate for him.

 

Judas Ledley.

jk, he is overrated though imo, a very replaceable player. Hope Johansen makes everybody forget about him in no time.

 

What did he expect the club to do? We had to accept the offer from Palace.

 

Joe who ?