Yorke On Celtic

Last updated : 06 September 2004 By Kevin Smith
Yorke: Likes The Premiership
Dwight Yorke has today heaped praise on Celtic, naming the club as "different class."

Yorke was speaking of his decision to turn down Celtic for Premiership no-hopers Birmingham City. He has claimed the lure of the Premiership was too much for him to resist. In truth, Yorke was scouted as back-up and as an option to rest Sutton and Hartson after Champions League games.

He said today, "I have to say manager Martin O'Neill and the board at Celtic are different class, they did everything to get me and I was honestly committed to going there. A club that size is hard to turn down."

"But when Birmingham came calling just before I was going to sign, I was suddenly torn.

"I was being offered two more years in the Premiership, where I had played all my football life, and I just could not resist it.

"In those instances you have to follow your gut instinct and that's what I did.

"But I want to thank Celtic for the businesslike way they conducted everything and I'm extremely sorry if I caused them any problems.

"Ultimately, it came down to my desire to play in the Premier League.

"As I said to the Celtic directors, it was the most difficult decision I have ever had to make in my life."

Well at least he's honest.