Celtic FC

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• Founded:1888
• Manager:Neil Lennon

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Mowbray plays down rift talk

15 Jan 2010 - 12:16:20

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Celtic manager Tony Mowbray has refuted reports suggesting he did not want to sell Gary Caldwell and that the defender's transfer to Wigan Athletic was rubber-stamped by the club's board of directors.

The 27-year-old Scotland international has said that Mowbray wanted him to stay at Parkhead, only for the club's chief executive Peter Lawwell and majority shareholder Dermot Desmond to sanction the deal.

But Mowbray has said: "First and foremost, it should be said I've got a very strong working relationship with the executives at the club.

"There's no animosity and nothing going on behind the scenes that anybody should try to read into.

"I admire Gary Caldwell as a guy and as a football player.

"Yet, there was a negotiation that went on and on and never came to a conclusion to the point that he was running out of contract. A club made a bid and we accepted that bid.

"I don't think we need look too deeply into those comments. Certain mischievous avenues could try to create a wedge that is not there.

"I wish Gary all the very, very best. He's an excellent footballer, he's a wonderful individual and a good man.

"But it's wrong to say that there's a conflict of interest at this club with myself and my board."