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      Tottenham to step up Ange Postecoglou pursuit this weekend with Celtic boss available on the cheap

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      TOTTENHAM will look to step up their pursuit of Celtic chief Ange Postecoglou following Saturday’s Scottish Cup Final.Spurs are keen on the Greece-born Aussie, who will land a domestic treble this term with victory over Inverness at Hampden Park.
      Tottenham are set to up their efforts to land Ange PostecoglouCredit: Getty
      Though the North London club have maintained throughout the search for a permanent successor to Antonio Conte, there is no preferred candidate above any other.
      Postecoglou, 57, has hugely impressed during his two-year stay at the Bhoys and has implemented the kind of progressive playing style Daniel Levy has promised fans next term.
      The former Socceroos chief is known by incoming Spurs’ chief football officer Scott Munn, a fellow Aussie who will begin his new post on July 1.
      Both Munn and Postecoglou have worked for the City Football Group, with the former being chief executive of Melbourne City and the Chinese arm of CFG operation.
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      While Postecoglou spent three seasons at Yokohama F. Marinos, the Japanese side in CFG’s 12-club stable.
      He is on a one-year rolling contract at Celtic, meaning he would not prove too costly to prise from Parkhead.
      Ex-Barcelona and Spain chief Luis Enrique, 53, remains a contender for the Spurs job, which has been vacant since Conte left on March 27.
      Napoli are keen on Luis Enrique too but their president, Aurelio De Laurentiis revealed on Tuesday that he believed the Spaniard “prefers the Premier League”.
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      Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim has also been considered but Portuguese reports insist he has a whopping £17.3million release clause for foreign clubs to sign him.
      Sources from Amorim’s home country also claim the 38-year-old is almost certain to spend another year with Sporting.
      He is said to be taking a very active role in the club’s pre-season plans, from picking hotels to the opposition for friendlies – hardly the behaviour of someone expecting to be leaving the club in the near future. More

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      Watch wild moment Hearts & Hibs players, coaches and staff caught up in mass brawl on pitch after Edinburgh derby

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      HIBS LOST out on fourth place – then lost the plot amid shameful full-time scenes at Tynecastle.Boss Lee Johnson angrily clashed with Steven Naismith following the 1-1 draw.
      There was a huge brawl on the pitch after the final whistleCredit: Andrew Barr
      Furious scenes ensued as both sets of players and benches clashed on the pitchCredit: Andrew Barr
      The result saw ten-man Hibs clinch fourth in the tableCredit: Andrew Barr
      And that sparked furious scenes as both sets of players and benches clashed on the pitch.
      Hibs sub Rocky Bushiri had to be held back after Jambos sub Ross Stewart swung at him.
      And goalkeeper coach Paul Gallagher also clashed with CJ Egan-Riley.
      Tensions boiled over after the ten man Jambos got the point they needed to claim a Euro spot.

      They went ahead through Yutato Oda, the Japanese starlet’s first goal for the club.
      Kevin Nisbet levelled after Alex Cochrane was sent off for a challenge on Lewis Miller.
      But Johnson’s men were unable to get the winner they needed to pip their Capital rivals.
      And his feud with Naisy, which had been simmering throughout, boiled over at the whistle.
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      It means Hearts will go straight into the Conference League qualifiers.
      Hibs must wait to see if Celtic win the Scottish Cup to see if they will join them.

      Lawrence Shankland signalled Hearts intent with a meaty challenge on Lewis Miller from kick-off.
      It saw the Jambos skipper spoken to by ref Don Robertson with less than 30 seconds gone.
      It was a day when set-pieces would prove pivotal for both sides.
      And sure enough the opener came in the seventh minute from a Hearts throw on the right.
      James Hill hurled the ball into the box, where it was headed out only as far as Oda.
      The Japanese striker was still waiting for his first goal since his arrival in January.
      He’d snatched at some chances and been denied by good goalkeeping with others.
      But here he composed himself and drilled a low left foot shot into Marshall’s bottom corner.
      Hill was booked in the ensuring celebrations as three sides of Tynecastle erupted.
      And Johnson was less than impressed with Naismith’s conduct a couple of yards away.
      It was just the start Hearts were looking for and they looked well on top.
      But there was obvious concern when Peter Haring clashed heads with Jake Doyle-Hayes.
      The midfielder had not long returned after missing six months of the season with concussion.
      So the Jambos took no chances with Kio replacing the Austrian in the 17th minute.
      Doyle-Hayes was booked for a late challenge on McKay soon after as the Jambos looked to break.
      Lewis Stevenson then saw yellow following a clash with Oda on the touchline.
      Hibs were rattled. They needed something to get them back in the game.
      And in the 26th minute they got it. Newell’s initial flick played Nisbet through on goal.
      Kye Rowles got in to deny the striker but Miller was following up.
      And as he got to the ball he was taken out just outside the box by Cochrane.
      Ref Don Robertson pointed to the spot and then booked the left-back.
      But VAR then told the whistler to have another look.
      And having done so Robertson then upgraded the decision to a red.
      Naismith immediately withdrew McKay and sent on Toby Sibbick.
      But it made no difference as Nisbet curled the free kick into Clark’s bottom right corner.
      Now it was Hearts turn to be rattled as their city rivals took control.
      Clark turned a Paul Hanlon shot over in the 35th minute after good play with Miller and Stevenson.
      Stewards attempt to keep the sides apartCredit: Andrew Barr
      The keeper did even better to turn Newell’s shot over during first half injury time.
      And when the corner came in Miller should have nodded Hibs ahead.
      It was a let off for Naismith’s Jambos who looked happy to get to the break.
      Johnson changed things at the interval, sending on Harry McKirdy and Ewan Henderson.
      Nisbet headed wide from Cadden’s cross in the 48th minute, another good chance.
      Doyle-Hayes suffered a shoulder injury soon after and was replaced by Josh Campbell.
      Clark held McKirdy’s low effort in the 53rd minute as Hibs continued to boss the game.
      Marijan Cabraja came on for Stevenson in the 55th minute.
      Kio stepped in to deny Cadden in the 62nd minute after Josh Ginnelly had let him in on goal.
      Cadden was booked for stopping Oda in his tracks following a rare Jambos break.
      And then he had to go off after hurting himself dealing with the resulting free kick.
      Clark saved from Youan in the 73rd minute after the striker had cut inside Nat Atkinson.
      And then the keeper superbly tipped away a Hanlon header from Newell’s corner.
      Campbell fired over from distance soon after as Hibs continued to look for the goal they needed.
      McKirdy headed wide from Cabraja’s cross with 10 minutes of normal time left to play.
      Hearts were now camped inside their own half as they looked to hold on to what they had.
      Hibs were distraught at the endCredit: Andrew Barr
      And Will Fish then saw a header deflect off Clark’s right post as they went close yet again.
      As tempers flared Johnson clashed with Gordon Forrest and was shown a yellow card.
      That bizarrely led to a hot water bottle being thrown in the direction of the Hibs manager.
      Shankland was booked for refusing to give the ball back after a foul on Campbell.
      As the clock ticked down McKirdy volleyed over as Hibs hopes of a win faded.
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      And at full-time their frustration spilled over as Johnson jostled with Naismith, sparking wild scenes.
      Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page More

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      Tottenham considering shock move for Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou after missing out on Arne Slot

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      TOTTENHAM have now set their sights on Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou – after Arne Slot ruled himself out.SunSport understands Postecoglou, 57, is among Spurs’ targets after missing out on Feyenoord’s Dutch boss.
      Tottenham are considering a shock move for Celtic boss Ange PostecoglouCredit: Getty
      He has impressed hugely with his work north of the border, winning back-to-back league and League Cup doubles by playing expansive, exciting football.
      The style of play could be a key factor in any possible switch to Spurs given Daniel Levy promised on Saturday the team would serve up fare next season that fans would “love to come and watch”.
      Should Levy turn to the Bhoys chief, he would not be the only Aussie to arrive at Spurs this summer, with Scott Munn beginning his role as chief football officer on July 1.
      Postecoglou and Munn have both previously worked for the City Football Group – the umbrella company that owns Manchester City and 11 other clubs worldwide.
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      Munn was chief executive of Melbourne City before taking over as CEO of the Chinese arm of City Football Group in 2019.
      Meanwhile Athens-born Postecoglou bossed City’s Japanese side Yokohama F Marinos for three years before taking over at Celtic in 2021.

      Free agent Luis Enrique has also been linked with the vacant position but SunSport believes Spurs are more likely to go for a manager who is currently in a job.
      Postecoglou is contracted to Celtic on a one-year rolling deal meaning compensation to hire him should not prove too costly.
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      It is believed that was one of the hitches in any bid to bring Slot to the club.
      The 44-year-old had a release clause of around £5.7million but that did not kick in until NEXT summer, meaning it was up to Spurs to agree a compensation package to take him now.
      Dutch sources suggest there was a significant difference in valuation.
      And when Feyenoord made it clear they would not budge in talks with Slot’s agent, Rafaela Pimenta, on Wednesday, any possible exit was ruled out.
      Slot today insisted there had been no conversations about his exit, only over signing a new contract at Feyenoord which he is set to do.
      While Spurs sources maintain they have held no discussions with Slot or Feyenoord over any possible move.
      Former AZ Alkmaar boss Slot said: “I have been hearing a lot of rumours going around about other interest in me.
      “Although I am thankful, my wish is to stay at Feyenoord and continue working on what we created last year.
      “There is not – and there has not been – transfer conversation and yesterday’s meeting was exclusively for an extension.
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      “All talks with the club have always been only in that sense. Looking forward to next season with Feyenoord.”
      It is 60 days tomorrow since Antonio Conte, Spurs’ last permanent manager, left the club. More

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      Rangers reveal the FIVE players on their way OUT of Ibrox – with one other out-of-contract star set for talks

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      RANGERS have confirmed the FIVE players heading out of Ibrox this summer. Michael Beale faces an almighty task next season to compete with Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic for trophies while steadying the ship at Ibrox with a huge rebuild on the cards.
      Michael Beale has a massive job to rejig Rangers in the summerCredit: Reuters
      Alfredo Morelos will leave the club at the end of the seasonCredit: PA
      The Englishman revealed earlier this month that Alfredo Morelos will be on his way out of the club after spending six years in Glasgow following his £1million switch from Helsinki in 2017.
      The out of contract striker was given his chance to say goodbye to fans after the 1-0 win over Aberdeen, despite Beale’s scathing verdict on the player’s performance when he came off the bench during the match.
      Ryan Kent is another player who will leave at the end of the season and looks set for a big money move to either the Premier League or Turkey.
      English clubs including Everton, Sheffield United, Burnley and Leeds have all reportedly held discussions with the player over a free agent switch with Fenerbahce also keen too.

      It’s unclear where he will be playing his football next season but it won’t be in Glasgow as Rangers have confirmed his exit.
      The Light Blues forked out around £7million to bring him to the club from Liverpool in 2019 after the winger impressed on loan during the 2018/19 campaign.
      The Ibrox giants were hopeful of selling Kent for a profit after his first couple of years in Scotland but they didn’t tie him down to a new deal and allowed him to run down his contract to leave for nothing this summer.
      Aside from Morelos and Kent, Rangers also confirmed that Scott Arfield, forgotten defender Filip Helander and veteran goalkeeper Allan McGregor will depart too.
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      Arfield has been a regular off the bench for Beale this year and has been a reliable member of the team but he’s set for a new challenge at the age of 34, with a return to boyhood club Falkirk a potential destination for him.
      Swedish centre-back Helander hasn’t played since picking up a long-term injury in Paisley against St Mirren last year.
      It’s been 13 months since he was last fit to feature after being dealt several blows on his road to recovery.
      He cost the Light Blues £3.5million in 2019 but he is another who will depart for free.
      Gers legend McGregor, 40, is also set to retire at the end of the season after staying on for a further year after the Scottish Cup final last May.
      He leaves after spending over 15 years at Ibrox across two spells, lifting 13 trophies and reaching two European finals.
      Steven Davis – who is out injured for the rest of the season – is set for contract talks as Beale wants to assess his fitness before making a decision on his future.
      A statement from the club on the departures read: “Each of the departing players has given the club excellent service and will move on to the next stage in their careers with the warmest wishes and thanks of everyone at Ibrox and the Rangers Training Centre.
      The individuals have contributed enormously to the club‘s capture of a record 55th Scottish league title, last season’s Scottish Cup, the run to the UEFA Europa League final and qualification for the UEFA Champions League this season.
      “Allan McGregor, of course, also gained significant honours with the club in his first spell and broke the 500 appearance mark for Gers back in April.

      Tributes to the departing players will be paid at tomorrow’s match with Hearts. Additional acknowledgements to those leaving will continue on the club’s digital platforms in the coming weeks, with Allan McGregor to be further recognised in his testimonial match with Newcastle on July 18.”

      Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page  More

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      I made my home debut against Barcelona but a woman claimed I got her pregnant the next day – I was all over the news

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      PAUL CADDIS endured a remarkable 24 hours after making his debut for Celtic in the Champions League.The right-back was faced with marking Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi as the Scottish side took on Barcelona in 2008 on his first game as a 20-year-old.
      AS a young pro Paul Caddis made his debut for Celtic against BarcelonaCredit: Scottish News and Sport
      The next day Caddis was in the papers for the wrong reasonsCredit: Youtube – Under the cosh
      But less than a day after his highs on the pitch he hit the lows of being at the centre of a media storm.
      During the game, Caddis, now 35, understandably struggled to contain the world class talent managed by Pep Guardiola that would go on to win a famous sextuple.
      Celtic gave a good account of themselves as they battled to a 3-2 defeat at Celtic Park.
      Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink opened the scoring before a quick equaliser from Messi.
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      Barry Robson gave the Scottish giants hope before Thierry Henry and Messi completed a comeback win for the LaLiga giants.
      Speaking about the game on the Under the Cosh podcast, Caddis said: “I knew regardless of what I did, if I got abused, they [team and fans] would look after me for being a young lad.
      “But if I did alright I had everything to gain so I was fine.
      “To play against them was a different level. The boss hammered me at half-time, stating ‘can you not see those f****** balls being diag-d onto Ronaldhinho’s toe?’
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      “Shunsuke Nakamura was brilliant going forward but gave me no help defensively so it was just [Eric] Abidal overlapping me for fun – I was all over the gaff. But what an experience.
      “Directly against Ronaldinho and all. Strongest a*** I have ever f****** felt. As soon as the ball came in, the first thing he done was bang [back into you].
      “By the time I’d recovered from being winded, the ball was miles away.”
      However, the excitement of making his home debut came crashing down the next day as the Scotsman was accused of fathering a woman’s unborn child in a newspaper story, which he completely denied.
      Caddis explained: “I played on the Tuesday night but on the Wednesday morning I was on the front page and the back page on the same day.
      “Some girl had come out and said I had fathered her child, which was a load of s***.
      “I was looking at the back page buzzing, saying ‘look at that picture of me and Ronaldinho,’ then looking at the back page seeing a munter in the front saying I was…
      “[The paper] had the story ready for about six weeks. It was a load of s*** but she sold this dream to the papers and they printed it.
      “I had to do a DNA test, at the time she made me think [the baby was mine] but three months later it turned out it wasn’t.”
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      Caddis would go on to make 22 appearances for Celtic before leaving the club and having spells in the lower leagues of English football.
      He is now working as the manager of the National League North side Hereford. More

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      Rangers cult hero looks unrecognisable after career spanning Indonesia, two World Cups and a love of 33 HORSES

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      HE only played an average of ten times a season, but enough to earn his status as a Rangers cult hero.Indeed, he’s also a national football hero for the international achievements of the star-studded squad he was part of.
      He joined the Gers 25 years agoCredit: Getty
      He was front and centre of a star-studded French squad – but only grabbed a single capCredit: EPA
      But his time at Rangers, though limited to 30 games in three years remains close to his heart.
      So much so the club’s jersey still forms the background image of his Twitter profile.
      The same can’t be said for a former boss.
      His toxic relationship with the man who signed him – Dick Advocaat – still rankles, even now.

      But his love for Gers fans remains. They even sang his name to the tune of his national anthem to welcome him in 1998.
      It sticks out in the memory even though Ibrox was only a small part of his football career.
      But the game of football is only a small part of the intriguing life of Lionel Charbonnier.
      The flamboyant Frenchman would be spotted wearing a cravate on his trips around Glasgow and he still cut a suave figure 25 years on from his arrival – and still sported one in one of recent appearances on the red carpet at the Balon d’Or.
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      The shaggy mane of hair has gone and is now slicked back while his wispy beard from his playing days is significantly bushier on the 56-year-old face.
      And his changing appearance is not the only unrecognisable aspect of the World Cup winning goalkeeper.
      He was part of France’s 1998 tournament triumph and though he moved into minor management roles after retiring – it’s his off-the-field activities that make Charbonnier stand out from the retired football crowd.
      He’d nip around the city in a Rover Metro and drop into art galleries outside training. Then after retirement he got into painting more himself.
      Charbonnier played 30 times for the Gers either side of a serious knee injury that eventually ended his career.Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      He joined some legendary figures in the 1998 France squadCredit: Reuters
      But the only league win of the World Cup winner’s career came at Ibrox.Credit: Alan MacGregor Ewing – The Sun Glasgow
      But after serious injury that all but ended his Rangers career he retired to France to recuperate and bred HORSES.
      At one stage – while he was still on the books with the Gers he cared for 15 and owned 33.
      His animal loved has passed to his daughter who is now a show-jumper too and he coaches her while working in broadcast punditry back home.
      After retiring from the game at Lausanne Sport he moved into coaching alongside his animal sanctuary.
      And though a man who followed alternative pursuits for a footballer, he did follow a familiar ex-pro’s pursuit into coaching, but true to form, off the beaten track.
      He began in lower league French football and would eventually return to his homeland but in between, he worked as part of the international set-ups at Tahiti and Indonesia – leading the under-20s to the 2009 World Cup in Egypt.
      He also managed a club side in Congo.
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      He’d never rule out a return to Ibrox though, telling the Rangers Review: “For me, to come back one day would be a dream, I would be very, very happy to work for Rangers.”
      Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page More

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      Watch moment Celtic star Joe Hart gets completely shut down live on American TV as he takes sly dig at US soccer

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      JOE HART got more than he bargained for when he took a sly dig at US soccer in a live TV interview alongside Cameron Carter-Vickers. The pair of Hoops pals were seated alongside each other as they joined the Morning Footy show for CBS Golazo with host Alexis Guerreros.
      Cameron Carter-Vickers and Joe Hart were appearing live on CBS
      Joe Hart couldn’t find the breakthrough against the USA
      Guerreros asked USA international Carter-Vickers about the kind of questions he gets from fans in the UK about American soccer, saying: “CCV I have a question.
      “What is the No1 question YOU get from these Europeans about playing in America, what is the No1 question about America and Joe Hart do you have any questions about America?”
      Carter Vickers responded: “Obviously we have Alistair Johnston here now so I can direct all of the questions about the MLS to him, he knows a bit more than me.
      “The team is a good group and there is a bit of banter flying about Ted Lasso but in the main it is all good.”

      At that point, Hart chipped in, saying: “When do you dominate?
      “Because obviously the US has such a strong history in sports – athletes, the size of the country, the way the colleges are set up to establish great athletes.
      “It is time, right? Enough money has gone into it, enough energy has gone into it.
      “I see players like Cameron, if he’s not starting, then the standard must be high.”
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      Quick as a flash, Guerreros answered, referencing the 0-0 draw with England during the World Cup, saying: “I think we did a pretty good job against England in the World Cup.”
      Cue hilarity amongst the other panel members, with Hart briefly rendered speechless before replying: “Oh Alexis, that was a good chess move.”
      Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page More

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      I’m an ex-Celtic star who played with John Hartson – we had to sweep up his pubic hair when he trimmed his privates

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      JOHN HARTSON is regarded as a hero at Celtic – but the academy players had to sweep up his pubic hair.Paul Caddis was in the Hoops’ youth set-up when Hartson was banging in the goals for the first team.
      John Hartson was a prolific goalscorer for Celtic from 2001 to 2006Credit: Getty
      Paul Caddis was in the youth team and had to clean up after HartsonCredit: Getty
      The Welsh striker scored 109 times for the club in 201 appearances between 2001 and 2006.
      But Caddis, who made his Celtic debut in January 2008, has less fond memories of Hartson.
      That is because part of the role as a youth player at Celtic Park meant cleaning up after the senior stars – including when Hartson trimmed his privates.
      Caddis, 35, told the Undr The Cosh podcast, Caddis revealed: “John Hartson used to trim his balls and we used to have to move balls out the way to sweep them.
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      “He’d trim up and there’d be all these ginger pubes.”
      Caddis was talking to host John Parkin about the jobs scholars used to do as part of their apprenticeship – with Parkin revealing he would force teenagers to shave his hairy back at York City.
      Caddis, now Hereford manager, added: “I would love it to go back to that way. I worked with Fleetwood academy. I know the 18s do jobs and that but they’re doing nothing compared to what they used to do.
      “It was better the old way, that’s why they’re such little a***holes now. They’re all chirpy, too much too young and all the rest of it.
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      “Nowadays, academies are almost built alongside first teams so you lose that nervousness.
      “You used to idolise a lot of the boys in the first team. You don’t see that now because you’ve probably grown up with them over the last three or four years.
      “We would never go in for lunch until after every first-team player had left the building. It would be half two, three o’clock sometimes because one of the first-team players was still in the gym.
      “I think that’s the way it should be. It’s the first team’s building, that’s the way I see it, but nowadays it’s becoming too snowflakey.”
      One-cap Scotland international Caddis played 24 times for Celtic, including against Barcelona in the Champions League on his home debut, before a journeyman career in the EFL.
      Hartson, meanwhile, is still regarded as a hero at Celtic, where he won three league titles.
      The forward turned pro at Luton and then had stints with Arsenal, West Ham, Wimbledon and Coventry before moving north of the border and returning to finish his career at West Brom.
      He also represented Wales 51 times, scoring 14. More