Ex-Rangers and Hearts winger David Templeton has stated that Celtic tried to secure the winger’s services at the 11th hour, alluding to a pre-contract at his boyhood club.
Speaking on the STV Radio Football Podcast, David Templeton confirmed that Neil Lennon tried to tempt Templeton into a U-Turn across Glasgow ahead of his deadline day move to Rangers in 2012.
Templeton, who has stated he’s a Celtic fan stated that a phone cal from Neil Lennon gave him a lot to think about, after all, Celtic were in the Champions League at the time, whilst Rangers were preparing for life in Scotland’s fourth tier.
Speaking on the STV Radio Football Podcast, Templeton said: “Yeah, of course I was tempted. Celtic were in the Champions League at the time and Rangers had just gone down, so it was definitely something I had to think about.
“The Rangers move happened on the final day of the August transfer window. I was at Murray Park until about two in the morning trying to get everything sorted.
“What made it even weirder was that while I was outside Murray Park, my agent got a phone call from Neil Lennon. The whole thing was bizarre.
“They basically said they wanted me to see out my contract and join Celtic the following summer. I remember saying, ‘What if I break my leg tomorrow?’ and they said they would still sign me.”
The winger also said Hearts’ financial situation in 2012 factored into his immediate departure from Gorgie, and may have pushed him to Ibrox. He said: “I was being told that if I didn’t sign, I probably wouldn’t play for Hearts again because they needed the transfer money. Hearts were struggling financially back then.
“So I was in a position where, if I didn’t sign for Rangers, I was going back to Hearts potentially not playing while the club was desperate for money.
“Of course I was tempted when Celtic got in touch. I grew up a Celtic fan and they were in the Champions League at the time, so it was a big decision to make.
“But in the end I went to Rangers. Once I went in, saw the facilities, saw the club, spoke to the manager and realised how much I was wanted, that played a huge part in my decision.”
Templeton went onto have a four year career at the club, making 86 appearances where he scored 27 goals and provided 25 assists, winning Scotland’s third and fourth theirs in the process.
