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'Rangers tried to sign me' claims Celtic legend John Hartson



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FORMER Celtic star John Hartson revealed that he immediately rebuffed Sir David Murray when the Rangers owner tried to entice him to Ibrox 15 months ago.
The Welshman failed a medical at Rangers when Dick Advocaat was manager and he subsequently signed for Celtic where he became a fans' favourite under Martin O'Neill.

But during Paul Le Guen's ill-fated tenure at Ibrox, Murray tried to persuade Hartson to leave West Brom for what would have been a sensational return to Glasgow.

However, the former Wales international claims Murray's phone call was a waste of time.

"There was no way that I could ever pull on a Rangers shirt after all that I achieved in five years at Celtic," Hartson told the Scottish Sun.

"Mr Murray tried to convince me it would work but it was a no-brainer as far as I was concerned.

"It's a call that I will never forget but one I had to say no to.

"There are two clubs in the world that I could never contemplate playing for now – Cardiff City and Rangers.

"Mr Murray could have offered to pay me a £1million per week and I would still have said no.

"Honestly, I'm being serious when I say that.

"Put it this way, I didn't even ask him for time to think about it.

"That would have been a waste of his time and I didn't want to do that.

"In the end, he accepted what I had to say and we wished each other all the best.

"I didn't hear from him again and that suited me fine."

The full article contains 277 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 26 March 2008 10:03 AM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Rangers FC , Celtic FC
 
1

Jealousy,jealousy,

26/03/2008 10:17:08
A typical example of Ranger's poor signing policy with regards to injuries. De Boer was a great player when fit but was signed at the same time we knocked Hartson back,he played far less for the gers than Hartson did for Celtic.
2

Royalty,

26/03/2008 10:22:21
John, April Fools Day is next week big yin.

Your having a laugh!



3

AJ Fife,

26/03/2008 10:35:58
There's no way this is true, Hartson isnae auld enough!
4

Patrick O'Shaunnessy,

26/03/2008 11:02:38
This shows how Minty's mind operates.

He is more concerned with one-upmanship with Celtic than trying to see a way forward that is in Rangers' best interests.

We saw it before when he signed that numpty from Porto.

We see his obsessive control of the media, brutally exposed by son-of-the-manse Graham Spiers...his insatiable apetite for 'Rangers-feel-good' stories, and his manipulation of the lap-top loyalists to print negative stories about Celtic.

The man is quite mad, driven beyond the boundaries of sanity by his very destructive, very costly, very obsessive desire to put one over on Celtic.

Celtic play the game differently. Yes, we recognise that Rangers are our rivals, and take great pleasure in rubbing their noses in it...but we don't let that passion set the agenda. When Celtic try to sign a player, it is because the player has been identified as offering something which will enhance the squad, not because the player concerned has a 'political' value.

I can just see Sir Minty lying in his bed as the 'French Revolution' was collapsing 'round his ears and thinking to himself : ' I know what I'll do, I'll sign John Hartson...that'll p*ss Celtic off'.

That probably was the extent of the reasoning.

How that guy ever made any money in business is a mystery.
5

Royalty,

26/03/2008 11:12:21
#5 Pat

Celtics problem is that Peter Lawwell has fallen into the same trap.

Signing players "just because you can" and look where its got him.

Gravesan, Riordan, K Miller, Donatti are a few examples.

Big blue chip's ego has crash landed with the realisation that he's got a bit carried away.

Sir David has learned from his few mistakes, but like all great business men, its how you learn from them & come back stronger.

Sir David has got big blue chip in his pocket.

So much so that he's ven let Martin Baine have a wee pot shot at him.


6

Dabulamanzi,

26/03/2008 11:21:34
#5 What about wgs signing McDonald, Broonaldo and Killen after hearing Wattie was interested. On the same vein but where he was unsuceesful was his attempt to sign Naismith. So it works both ways. I just hope Hartson's talking crap here as he was well past his best when he signed for celtc in the first place.
7

Florentine_Pogen,

26/03/2008 11:25:42
#6 It must now be obvious to all that Riordan was bought not to play but to weaken Hibs. No more no less.

The real tragedy is that he should be playing regularly for Scotland. Wrong choice Deek but I'm sure the Range Rover is fun to drive.

Greedy agent + malleable player + OF = Scotlands Loss.
8

Waitin´and hopin,

26/03/2008 11:27:21
What a load of absolute rubbish!! Do they really expect Murray to give this credence by refuting it! It tells you something about the Bheggers if Hartson is a legend.
9

tomislav,

Serbian loyal RSC 26/03/2008 11:48:57
subsequently signed for Celtic where he became a fans' favourite ,,,,,,, what all 3000 of them
10

George Best,

26/03/2008 12:09:05
The IRA song singer is more suited to IRA Fitba Club. Thank God the slug said no.
11

yeahyeahyeah,

26/03/2008 12:20:01
#5 - Patrick, Minty would never have allowed the 'laptop loyal' (ha!) to run this clearly anti-rangers story. Heads will roll (or at the very least, somebody, somewhere, will be going without a new suit from slaters menswear). Who is the author? Own up.
12

Celtic Fan Steven,

Walking in a Hartson Wonderland. 26/03/2008 12:20:57
#9 He scored enough goals against you lot to make him a legend twice over!

Come back Big John, we need you now!!!
13

Celtic Fan Steven,

26/03/2008 12:22:34
#10, try 300,000 and you might be close. Global brand don't forget.
14

Britishandproud,

26/03/2008 12:23:09
#13
are things that bad you need that fat mutant..do you need someone to lead the chorus of I.R.A songs?
15

Celtic Fan Steven,

26/03/2008 12:24:01
Murrays brass neck knows no bounds! the wee scamp!
16

Florentine_Pogen,

26/03/2008 12:29:46
#13 That's a quaint monicker....if you ever need to shorten it, may I suggest Bn'P ?

Talking of "fat mutants", Paul Gascoigne was a member of that particuler club AND he could play the flute.

Whit a guy........
17

FAN OF GERRY,

26/03/2008 12:44:42
#5 Patrick once again you print things based upon nothing but your little warped mind. You really ought to start dealing in facts or does your celtic mentallity hinder that process......
18

Dark Horse,

26/03/2008 12:46:55
Hartson, the only Welshman who can't sing...well not without Pearson to help him with the lyrics and add ons.

Talking of Plug...I can't believe he wasn't mentioned yesterday. A gingah wi plooks .... gives Doddsy a run for his money in the ugly stakes.
19

,

26/03/2008 12:48:15
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
20

Dark Horse,

26/03/2008 12:51:34
#5

"How that guy ever made any money in business is a mystery"

PO's I think the very fact that you/we are on here, while Minty is perusing his portfolios, running his many businesses,wineries etc should help you to unravel that mystery.
21

,

26/03/2008 12:57:21
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
22

gerry mac,

26/03/2008 13:06:10
my my the hybrids are really foaming at the mouth about this one.how undignified.how quintessentially unbritish.sad isn't it.roll on saturday and we can shut this mob up for another season AGAIN!
hailx2
23

monkey man,

26/03/2008 13:18:54
Hartson was found out when he headed South after his sentence at the Brendanbeau. Dado Prso was ten times the players he was.
24

Britishandproud,

26/03/2008 13:24:50
17 and 23... have you taking the medication today! The last time you visited Ibrox you got, how can i put this..destroyed by us!

As for my name , i'll keep it like it is thanks, if i shortened it how would you know i was proud to be british?...Timmy and logic, it just aint a good mix is it? :-d:-d
25

,

26/03/2008 13:28:16
Comment Removed By Administrator
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26

Bosco Bhoy,

---donegal--- 26/03/2008 13:37:02
He may have been slow and past his best but few could argue that Hartson was an excellent siging for Celtic and contributed significantly to the cause of CFC.

Anybody got a clue why people wish to refer to other club fans as scum and talk of car bombs on a footie forum?

This site is going downhill on a daily basis.
27

Busymale,

26/03/2008 13:38:02
Well done John. If your fat face was the height of their ambition then.........

You know what? They really are lousy people.
28

kenny mcg,

26/03/2008 13:39:59
#26 and your not a Celtc fan are you...........

Anyway this story is total fabrication.
29

monkey man,

26/03/2008 13:41:18
#5

Yeah, and that's why Murray is probably lying back on a luxury yacht somewhere and you're typing pish on here. lol
30

,

26/03/2008 13:45:37
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
31

kenny mcg,

26/03/2008 13:50:44
#thurty wan.

And you say Gers are a Hyrbid club when Ceptic have follow followers like your good self.
I hope the shadow of Ibrox has not darkened Mordor too much.
Giruy ha ha
32

Dark Horse,

26/03/2008 13:51:37
#26

Ah BGM...tut tut.... a post not worthy of the rapier like wit of HH... you are going down the quantity not quality route. Are you Chesney in disguise?
33

BIG GERS-MAN!!,

26/03/2008 13:55:08
33 - Yeah I forgot people contribute on different posts. It was playground stuff at best.

I am ashamed!
34

buy2let,

on a boat hiding 26/03/2008 14:07:39
What a story you couldnt have made this one up minty moonbeam has embarresed his own club and fans once again,first the vaction to the pontiffs home ,were they got stuck,now big John basically telling minty to f... off go on john tell the world how the hybrids behave,stuff your rangers shirt up yer backside
35

Patrick O'Shaunnessy,

26/03/2008 14:21:23
Big Bad John wouldn't pull on a Rainjurs tap for a million a week.

Now that IS class.
36

Patrick O'Shaunnessy,

26/03/2008 14:26:20
" I didn't hear from him again and that suited me fine."

Pure class.
37

Patrick O'Shaunnessy,

26/03/2008 14:27:02
"It was a no brainer."

Stoap that !
38

Royalty,

26/03/2008 14:39:29
Aye Berwick Rangers!
39

Shend for Sebo, Miss Moneypenny,

26/03/2008 14:41:04
36 - 38. You have strange ideas about what is and isn't "class".

Nylon shell suit for Patrick, please.
40

George Best,

26/03/2008 14:44:44
36. & 37. Big Bad John deserted his wife and children to sh&g some wh0re even fatter than himself.

Now that IS class.

Big Bad John didn't hear from his wife Lowrie again. Just from her lawyers who got her £2 million off him.

Pure Class.
41

George Best,

26/03/2008 14:47:44
35. My my you're excitable aren't you?

"I do not regret my move to Rangers to this day, I just couldn't put up with another 4 seasons of the bigotry I saw at Parkhead".

Maurice Johnston.
42

supersub,

KL 26/03/2008 14:48:05
Any gers fans living in Malaysia, KL Celts will as usual show the game at Sids Pub, Liverpool supporters club malayia will be their cheering on the bhoys, if you want to watch the match its only a tenner cause your going to have to pay your dues, or the 3 of you could start your own club instead of leaching onto us. Hail Hail
See you on Saturday
43

George Best,

26/03/2008 14:54:08
44. One hears the Baku Bears (over 300 members)have decided NOT to allow the 5 (yes 5)Celtic fans who turned up at their club for the last OF game entry, after they generally made a nuisance of themselves last time round.

Maybe the Unwashed Five could start their own club.

Heil Heil Sean South of GaryGlitter!
44

supersub,

KL 26/03/2008 15:02:14
George Best
If your in town, come on down, pay your dues watch the game we will even give you a nice T shirt you can give it to your nephew he will like it
Cheers
Supergub 5-1
45

jerrymanders,

Utopia Park 26/03/2008 15:09:56
#42

He was referring to the bigotry he received from Rags supporters. By joining them he thought this would stop. Oh how wrong he was. Remember the burning of season tickets outside Ibrox? That was before he pulled on a shirt for them!
46

George Best,

26/03/2008 15:43:14
47. Did I hear a pig squeek?
47

The Truth Hurts,

26/03/2008 16:27:14
47- You certainly did.. And you got the correct posting and all!! Good little piggy...
48

shoesy,

26/03/2008 16:52:10
Big Bad John was more than happy to sign for Rangers, BEFORE he signed for celtc.
I wonder what happened to him ?
49

Richardinho,

26/03/2008 16:58:38
Big John scored what I regard as the greatest Celtic goal in my lifetime-that against Liverpool in the Uefa cup on our run to Seville.
Curious that Murray is the guy who actually signs the players at Ibrox. suprised no one has commented on that.
50

,

26/03/2008 17:27:05
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
51

jerrymanders,

As happy as a PIS.... 26/03/2008 17:29:23
#47 LOL

I blame your school. Still, stick in and there might be a chance you can get those grades for apprentice swine herder at Ibrox.
52

Hunky Dorey,

26/03/2008 17:29:33
#49 Shoesy....... After playing for the SUPER CELTS,any other club is just an anti-climax.
53

Hunky Dorey,

Glasgow belongs to the TIC! 26/03/2008 17:33:04
#52..... And God knows, there are more than enough swines at sectarian central(Ibrox-scrapyard)
54

shoesy,

26/03/2008 18:34:22
#53 Do you mean like Mo Johnson?
55

FAN OF GERRY,

glasgow 26/03/2008 19:00:59
#36 No Patrick thats stupidity.
56

Media 1,

cape town 26/03/2008 19:02:09
I think Hartson is absolutely correct! Signing for Rangers would be silly as it would ruin his splendid record with Celtic.
He is remembered in Scotland for his outstanding service to Celtic Football Club, and for his high standard of football, why ruin that by being remebered as the guy who crossed the divide?
Morris Johnstone! There, what did you think when I said the name, was it his footballing abilty?

Hartson had to say no in order to protect his Scottish Football legacy. And I for one agree with him for doing so.
57

Dave the jambo fae Burnley.,

Burnley 26/03/2008 20:26:27
I'm a Jambo and that fat taff wouldny even get a game in oor team at the minute.(and b4 u's say it, i know we're crap) says a lot for that fat T--t,
58

Dave the jambo fae Burnley.,

Burnley 26/03/2008 20:28:42
No 51 i think you lot are the most sectarian club,especially when you scum come to the CAPITAL,dae us a favour and stay away.
59

James Sanderson,

Kelvinside 26/03/2008 21:36:37
Hartson did the right thing turning Rangers down.

It was right for Rangers as he was a spent force.

It was right for Hartson himself who wanted to be closer to his family anyway.

It was right for the climate in Glasgow - such a move would have heightened the bad feelings between fans.

It was right for the Celtic fans who didn't have a "legend's" reputation tarnished.

It was right for the game - because it showed that money is not the be all and end all.

One point though. Why on earth did Murray even approach Hartson? What possessed Murray to make this move? And who's advice was Murray acting upon? Walter Smith's? Paul Le Guen's?

Personally I doubt either manager would have wanted Hartson. Which brings me back to Murray. Was it his decision? And if so then the question begs - who is signing the players at Ibrox?
60

Another King of Spain,

Sensing the fear of the hoops 26/03/2008 23:28:20
Phew that was lucky...!
61

Bleeding Heart...,

26/03/2008 23:37:57
#60 - "And if so then the question begs - who is signing the players at Ibrox?"

Silly boy! That sort of thing only excites the Glasgow media when someone expendable to them is doing it - a Johnny Foreigner type, for example. That guy at Hearts is a prime target, isn't he?

It's a particularly useful bone to gnaw at for the media if the aim to foster the idea that the club in question is in the hands of a madman and is being badly mismanaged.

This is especially important if it looks like the said club is capable of challenging the Old Firm.

A series of negative stories, designed to undermine & destabilise the challenge, are vital to maintaining the compact between the Glasgow-based media and the bulk of its constituent readership.

No, the Glasgow media will not seek to pose your question. Another compact they have is their relationship with the Old Firm clubs - and they wouldn't want to jeopardise that, would they?
62

The Borgia,s PR. Company,

Govan 27/03/2008 01:54:12
Is Fatson bringing a book out "Septic the only club i ever wanted to play for and they were my subuteo team as well" .This guy failed the Rangers medical and we did not sign him then so i hardly think we would go back in for an overweight baldy hasbeen well past his sellby date, if the slavering hoardes believe this story then no wonder the Whytes and the Kellys got away with it for so long talk about being gullable!
63

stefano,

Bum 27/03/2008 13:33:34
Hartson was in tears when he failed the medical at Ibrox, so he's just a bitter ex-pro.

More importantly, he was a total failure at the Hawthorns after he left the Gary Glitter Arena and everyone in football, Murrya included, would know that.

This is pure fantasy from the Welsh whale.
64

lewkazz,

27/03/2008 20:58:13
Fat Pie ?

 

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