The transfer speculation mooting a return to Paradise for Shaun Maloney has been rubbished today by agent John Halliwell. Speaking in the Scotsman the Agent provocateur said, (and it pains me even to quote him on these hallowed pages) "All this talk about Shaun being unhappy is news to me but there's nothing in it.
"There is always talk about Shaun because he is a talented player but this is just completely made up. He's been working so hard to get fit because he's so desperate to make an impact in the Premiership.
The sad part of this is that personally, I would count the agent as a more reliable source than the News of the Screws, but siding with that Ham Shank leaves an ugly taste in my mouth! I also think that Maloney-gate was a situation where neither party would really win. Shaun was a great footballer for Celtic, playing in a position that suited his style of play like a glove and destined to achieve greatness within Scottish Football and Celtic lost a vital cog in the style of play that we had enjoyed one season only to berate the next. Was the lack of cutting edge and attacking play this season due to Shaun's absence? It cant have helped.
When he went to rejoin the manager who would rather play players out of position rather than him the writing was truly on the wall for Maloney.
Oh well.
EDIT: This received prior to 'going to print'
From the official Villa site. Maloney speaks
"I didn't even see the story myself, Stiliyan Petrov told me about it this morning, but there is nothing in it"
Given the mixed reception to the news amongst the support there was probably no going back anyway Shaun.
Yours in Celtic
Clydebuilt