Yesterday, amidst the sound and fury at Ibrox, and the response to the Adam Idah signing, we got an update, not unexpected but still disappointing, on the future of Daniel Kelly, and it basically amounts to this: he’s signing for Millwall.
I’ve heard various conflicting reports on this, but we really only have one official statement from inside the club, and that’s the statement from Brendan Rodgers, laying out a very clear position, which is that we offered him a contract and a very clear progression plan, and that Kelly turned it down and was therefore removed from the pre-season squad.
There are rumours and counter-rumours, some backing the manager, and others claiming that Rodgers’ version of this was slightly misleading, and in fact, the player was not convinced that he had a future at Celtic beyond spending his time on the bench.
Things happen within clubs, relationships break down, and we’re not always going to be happy with the results. On the surface of it, this is a blow because Celtic wanted to keep Daniel Kelly, and the manager saw a place for him in the squad.
But under the surface, as this blog has pointed out, the academy system is a mess. It doesn’t aid player development very well, and for a young kid who wants to progress his talents, there are clearly better options out there.
I’ve heard that this has nothing to do with money, and that the offer Celtic put on the table is probably better than the offer he’s getting elsewhere.
And maybe that’s true, and maybe it’s not. But other than money, I find it hard to see what the attraction is in Millwall, and why that represents a better future in the short to medium term than staying at Celtic Park would have been.
I mean, initial reports suggested that this kid was being courted by big teams from around Europe. But those same rumours and those same stories were everywhere about Rocco Vata as well, and he’s ended up at Watford.
So, as that, on the surface, looks like something more money-oriented than anything else, you can understand why some people would believe that.
I mean, Watford and Millwall instead of a career progression path, which would almost certainly have resulted in appearances in the Champions League?
There is no Champions League football in the immediate future of either player, stranded in the second tier of England and most likely on the bench there.
I mean, if Kelly wants to know how difficult that is, he should perhaps have talked to Kevin Nisbet, who had a lot more experience and a lot more obvious talent, with international caps to boot, and who, by everybody’s reckoning, was expected to do better in the blood and thunder, high-pressure environment, and at the very club Kelly is signing for.
Yet 19 league games from a 46-match campaign delivered a mere five goals.
But too many players in the modern game refuse to listen to their peers or their managers. They want everything, and they want it now. The highways and byways of football are littered with the debris of careers that barely even got started before they were done.
And unlike a lot of people, I can’t even bring myself to be angry about the potential loss to our club of so many of these promising talents believing that the grass is greener somewhere else. I’m just weary of having to watch the stupidity enacted over and over again by people who are either blinded by the pound signs or recipients of some truly abysmal advice.
I cannot help but look at this and think this is a decision that Daniel Kelly will look back on in years to come with the most profound regret. It is senseless, stupid, and short-sighted. And unless he and Rocco Vata are very, very lucky, they’re going to find out, as so many kids who made decisions like this have, to their tremendous cost, that even if you’re good, even if you’re really good, these are lottery-winner odds, and the table is stacked against you.
There is probably no higher-pressure environment in football, outside of Glasgow, than playing in the English second tier, with the promise of fabulous riches on the one hand and the certainty of oblivion on the other.
And in between, a lot of languishing clubs floundering in mediocrity, all of them looking for the next big thing to jump towards the former or to steer them clear of the latter, and none of them with the least bit of patience for kids just trying to learn their trade.
That league is a killing field, and what it kills are young player’s dreams.
But hey, until then the money’s good. So, what the hell?
Money’s also good for the agent, which I suspect is the real source of the issue
As ma auld maw used tae say. Hell mend them.
I would rather warm the bench at paradise than at that racist shithole that is millwall , their ultras are called the bushwackers . Consist of 400 to 500 white English racists.
I had the most unpleasant time there visiting family . Out for a nice family meal , no colours on . It was our accents that pissed them off. One thick moron actually called us Irish cnuts . 10 of them and 4 us . We were on a hiding if we stayed.
It’s a place I will never be near again
We obviously don’t know the whole story here. However, there is a case for accusing these youngsters with a lack of humility/patience. I mean, Callum McGregor didn’t make his first team debut until he was 21; and that was after a season on loan. Seriously, who are the people advising them?
I think you are probably right, however, there will be sense of frustration with our young players who see “projects” come in and push them down the ladder, often failing to work out. There are a number of them at the club now. We really need a recruitment team to search for quality players that will come in and hot the ground running, genuine young players from other clubs that can be progressed (rather than a shotgun approach) and to seriously bring through younger players that can get a consistent run in the side, even using the League Cup as a feeder tournament for youth players.
In my opinion this is NOT a blow for us. It tells us quite clearly that Daniel thinks he has arrived. It is better that we find this out now rather than further down the line. It does not sound to me that his mind-set is strong enough to play for Celtic. I wish him well at Millwall, but I think I know how this story will probably end.
I can’t blame either of them for moving somewhere there is a better chance of becoming a first team regular. The nature of the SPFL is that Celtic usually can’t risk dropping any points at all, so the opportunity for a bit of “learning on the job” is extremely limited – it amounts to the odd cup tie here and there. Neither Watford or Millwall is expected to be among the front runners in the Championship this coming season so game time is realistic at both those clubs, so they have a chance, and they’re backing themselves to take it. I admire their boldness instead of settling for the security of the three year contract at Celtic, with plenty of bench time and the chance to be the next Mikey Johnston – a bit part player in their mid 20s hoping to even have the chance to go to the likes of Ayr Utd or Southend Utd at the end of that contract…. (all due respect to the clubs named, I was referring more to their respective league positions than the clubs themselves). If they fail they will at least know that they tried.
You have nailed it. Well played for having the decency to see what most supporters can’t because it hurts them to do so. The majority of supporters are saying both Vata and Kelly aren’t good enough, but are raging that they are leaving. Tells you all you need to know.
Welsh and Ralston, How many years have they been at the club. Both have made next to know impact but sit on the bench week in week out. Zero ambition and happy to sit on £12K per week. But you know the club are happy for them to do so because it helps the uefa homegrown rule. At least Vata and Kelly have a clear vision to play in the English Championship to then move on to better instead of being brainwashed by the head of our foodchain to sign a wee extension here and there to sit on a bench.
Anyone care to name a player who turned down the security of a three year contract at the club whose academy he came through to drop down to englands lower divisions to play first team football to get his career moving?
I’ll start.
Matt O’Riley.
Aron Hickey also knocked back a contract at Celtic to pursue first team football at Hearts when he was only 16. Didn’t do him any harm.
Boy obviously has his head screwed on and also knocked Celtic back again to sign for Bologna.
Another good example. If you were a young player hanging around Lennoxtown watching Lawwell juniors project signings arrive en masse, would you see Welsh, Ralston and Johnston as your role models, or Aaron Hickey and Matt O’Riley?
Answers on the back of a paradise windfall ticket to…….
Madness for this lad to opt for Millwall, this is a team with ground capacity of just over 20,000, they were last promoted over 20 years ago. They have some of the most racist fans in English football,
and in their 98 year existence in the Football League only 9 years have been in the top division.
Maybe he thinks if he plays well in their 1st team then he’ll be in the shop window, but the Championship is a hard League full of good professionals and up and coming young players, it is a big step up from the Lowland League,
Good luck to the boy, he’ll need it, and along with the luck he’ll have to be special to fight his way up the ladder in English football.
Racism disappeared from the club a long time ago, do keep up
This story started well and ended up with you embarrassing yourself James. You have stated that the boy will go there and be a failure and then have ended with if he is a success it will be to do with luck. Wow. Why do you print this rubbish.
He will earn less money from Millwall. I know this for a fact, but he will get opportunity which he wont get at Celtic. Why are you blind sited when it comes to our academy lads getting next to no opportunity. Should the boy stay at Celtic in the annual two horse race and sit on the bench for Champions league games to make up the numbers for homegrown.
I see you have also brought up Nesbitt and stats. I would love to see the stats on Welsh and Ralston???? How many years they have been there, how many first team appearances they have started games in and how many times they have came off the bench, not got off the bench and how many times they have just sat on the bus and not even made the first team squad?. Can you publish them?. It’s as clear as day both those players have zero desire elsewhere and are Happy to play a very diluted part with Celtic whilst coining in weekly???.
You did mention Vata and Kelly are leaving for money eh? So are you happy to see welsh and Ralston on £12K per week just sitting on the bench? Oh and another point. Everyone getting hung up on two boys who are apparently nowhere near good enough for our first team, yet are complaining they are leaving the club. You won’t agree, but its all very embarrassing and amateurish by the football club led by a manager who was happy to leave when the club were pushing for another 9 in a row. Look how that ended.
That lenghty comment contains more bullshit than I can be bothered to sift through.
You have asserted things from that article which are absolutely false.
You shouldn’t comment if you can’t even understand what you read.
Ludicrous post.
James,
Your entitled to your opinion like everyone else. You started the article with, Basically he has signed for Millwall. Ok, thats fine but let’s be honest you have called the boy senseless, stupid and short-sighted. Jumping on the bandwagon of abuse this Celtic supporting kid is getting just for more likes to give you gratification that you have done your daily article.
This is all ifs and buts and a lot of hearsay from many supporters on the subject of Kelly leaving. Im merely defending the kid because I’ve known the family and understand what’s been happening in the background.
If people think this is to do with money then they are a million miles off it. If they also like yourself think he was going to play and even be involved in games this season including the champions league, again they are a million miles off it. The boy was going to the scottish lower leagues on loan.
To be bullied into signing a deal at Celtic because you support the club is the lowest of lows and because the fans think he should do so because he is one of us is the cause for these misplaced articles that get published on social media.
This isn’t personal against you James, it’s just frustrating knowing what has happened behind the scenes and seeing the club leak information to ensure they come out the right end of this. It’s a bigger issue than Daniel Kelly and there isn’t many people willing to call that out.
I don’t like being misrepresented. Bottom line.
IF people take issue with stuff I’ve actually said, I have no problem with it.
Just not going to have people reading stuff, cherrypicking certain bits of it and accusing me of making a case which I didn’t.
Good luck to them, football is not an easy career to be successful in unless you are pretty special. Their eventual path is their decision to make and I genuinely hope they made the right choices for themselves.
Some of the teams in that league are rubbish and for the money they get. Daniel getting a decent signing on fee and a decent wage for 3 or 4 years max and then he’ll be back up north playing for a lower SPFL club, potential coached out of him.
He may have a million in the bank though… I didn’t see a great deal in him and he would probably be 1st team ready in a couple of season.
He may make 10 appearances on the grass with Millwall this season and with that he will have to prove he is better than what they have. Tough time ahead.
I would say he will make 25+ appearances. This I have confidence in.
Bye Bye. Don’t let the door hit your arse on the way out.
Not publishing my comment James?
Your comment is published you tit.
Perfectly happy for you to embarrass yourself.
Not really sure if this a good or bad outcome tbh. What seems clear though is that they don’t really have a particularly good league to develop their talents in or to entice them to Scotland in the first place. Our leagues don’t produce outstanding players and this has a seriously bad impact on the Scottish international front too. It seems more the fault of the SPFL or SFA or both for not producing a league fit for purpose than it is that of Celtic FC. As for Kelly and Vata well it’s their choice I guess but also I sense they don’t see their long term future as regular first team picks. I know for some this won’t go down or reflect too well but it gives a bit more kudos to Ralston, Welsh and Mikey Johnson for the desire to stay and be a part of the biggest and best club in Scotland
if that is the level of both those guys ambitions then just as well they moved on. They only need to look at the current plight of Tierney to see its a jungle down there. A noticed another superstar young Dembele changed club again during the week.
The EFL Championship is one very competitive, unforgiving and dramatic dog devouring dog bear pit environment that I’ve seen live twice a season for the last 14 years now…
It’s a hard League to survive in for sure –
Unlike the two bob laughing stock of world football that is The SPFL Premier Division…
Which has thankfully been predominantly one bob since The millennium –
And long may that last of course !
Why doesn’t John Paul Connelly tell us what has happened behind the scenes, rather than make veiled references to it? This might help to present a clearer picture of what are the real issues relating to development from the Academy.
I’ll second that.
JPC WHAT A FCUKIN WANKER YOU ARE .
He obviously feels that he will be playing a better standard of football in England rather than stay in the backwater that is Scotland. Champions league? It’s only cos there’s only 2 teams in Scotland to compete for it that Celtic get there.teddy sheringham won champions league and he was ex millwall as was Alex stepney
I’ve no idea the ‘background’ to it all but first, good luck to DK. As others mentioned, the likes of Hickey, MOR, went away to play lower league and ended up more prominent. Equally, there’s a ton of players who left, regretted it and never reached those heights again (Gary Hooper?).
I’ll not guess what issues there are but it would maybe make sense for the coaching staff to have a Q&A with the youth teams. Ask them what they expect. Outline how tough but also rewarding it is to make the 1st team. And crucially, outline a ‘path of excellence’ or something to make that more likely. Because at present, we are losing a lot of young talent. Equally, are the reasons not money related, or are some money related and others just frustrated that there’s no path to the 1st team?
We definitely need (not just us but our B league) a better set-up. These young players need better opposition. Why not put money behind an idea to play more continental teams regularly, as part of the youth set-up? That would perhaps give them better quality to play against weekly.
If Kelly and Lawal and Vata do progress over the next couple of years and move to bigger clubs, you could say that we got at least one of them wrong and they needed more 1st team opportunities to stay. If they don’t produce, then we can say the right decision was reached by everyone. Regardless, we really need to give our youth teams better quality of opposition, to allow better progression
Daniel Kelly leaving when offered 5grand a week at 18 years old tells me it’s 1 thing with him. It’s the £££ he’s chasing. He obviously doesn’t care about winning by joining a small English team.