Hoops heroes tell Caldwell to get real

The Scotland defender spoke out last week over the impasse surrounding his Celtic future.Caldwell is reportedly seeking about £20,000 a week to sign a new contract next summer in order to bring him in line with the club's top earners.McAvennie believes the issue has affected Caldwell's game and urged him to accept what is on offer, while McGarvey criticised the centre-back's timing amid a recession."It's Celtic we're talking about and you have got to be an exceptional player to get 20 grand a week," McAvennie said."Big John Hartson and Henrik (Larsson) were tremendous players, them and Chris Sutton were all getting decent money but they produced week in, week out. I think those days at Celtic are finished - unless you're a director!"McAvennie, whose career failed to hit previous heights after he left Celtic for a second spell at West Ham, warned Caldwell that moving to England might not pay off."I think he's on 10 or 11 grand at the moment, which ain't bad money," the former Scotland striker said."I thought he was outstanding last year when he got his head down and just got on with his game."The grass is not greener. They have made him an offer from what I can gather."Get the head down, Gary, and take the money. It's life-changing money they get now."It's changed days, we used to argue over a couple of hundred quid. His head must be battered at the moment and it does distract you."McGarvey also told Caldwell to concentrate on his game or risk losing the backing of the Celtic support."Is he on £9,000 a week now and he has been offered £12,000?" McGarvey said."I think to be offered a wage rise of £3,000 a week, for any Celtic supporter, they would all grab it."I've not got a problem for any player asking for a rise. I remember going into Celtic and asking for a rise of £20 a week in 1983 and I was told I was being very greedy."But for him to ask for half a million pounds of a rise now, when there is a credit crunch and a lot of Celtic fans can't afford to get to games, I think the timing is wrong."I can understand where Gary is coming from, he has been made captain and he is looking at a few players in the team that are getting much more and he just wants up to their level."But I don't think it should be done in public, it should be kept internal, and the timing is wrong."McGarvey warned the Scotland defender he may not find success at the top level of the English game should he leave Celtic."I think he lacks pace and I think most of his bookings and sendings-off are created by his lack of pace," said the former Liverpool player."He is using his hands to pull players back. So I think in the Premiership he would struggle."I don't think he would let himself down but the top players have all got pace. I can't imagine Torres and Caldwell going for a 50-50."

Source: Team_Talk