Source: Daily_Mail
Celtic board forced me to join Wigan claims ousted defender Caldwell
Gary Caldwell sensationally blew the lid on his Celtic exit by claiming Tony Mowbray lost his battle with the Parkhead money men to keep the defender in Glasgow. [LNB]In a candid interview following his lucrative transfer to Wigan, Caldwell insisted chief executive Peter Lawwell and the board did not rate him. But he claims Mowbray told him repeatedly during his seven months in charge that he wanted the 27-year-old to sign a new contract. [LNB]A split was inevitable, however, when Celtic refused to increase his wages to somewhere nearer the club's big earners such as Artur Boruc, Marco Fortune and Scott Brown - and offered Caldwell approximately half of the £25,000 weekly pay he will now command at the English Premier League club. [LNB] Parting shot: Caldwell claims he was shown the door at Parkhead by the board[LNB]Caldwell has secured a four-and-a-half year deal with Wigan worth around £5million after turning down Gordon Strachan's Middlesbrough. [LNB]And he said: 'I saw the interview the manager gave when he first came to the club, when Tony said he wanted to keep me. I was quite happy about that. The manager told me at different times he wanted me to stay. [LNB] I had to tell Gordon Strachan I chose Wigan over Middlesbrough face to face, says Gary CaldwellWigan hope to trump Middlesbrough again with signing of Rangers' Kris BoydCaldwell snubs Strachan to complete £500,000 move from Celtic to Wigan CELTIC FC
