Now, try not to laugh too much but, apparently – according to the man himself – Rangers tried to sign John Hartson after he left Celtic even though they had rejected him some seven years earlier because of a failed medical.
Speaking on Go Radio and reported by the Glasgow Times, Hartson made the claim for the first time – why he hasn’t done so before is anyone’s guess particularly when he is on the TV or in the papers every other day – and revealed how close he came to leaving the dark side of Glasgow behind:
“It was a reporter that mentioned his name to me.
“(He said) expect a call from Mr Murray, he’s sought your number out.
“He (Murray) said ‘Look I’d like to bring you back up to Rangers. We know we made a mistake; we should’ve signed you’.
“I said look with all due respect thank you very much but there was no way, it was never happening. The conversation was a bit of a waste of time really.
“His actual words were, ‘I’m going to stick you in the safe house for the first old firm game’.
“I said I would have never been fully accepted by the Rangers fans and secondly just thrown all my 110 goals (for Celtic) down the river.”
First of all, there is a reason why he left Celtic – he was done.
His knees were dodgy before he signed for them, hence the reason we gave him a swerve, but he barely kicked a ball in anger after he left Glasgow, and with Kris Boyd, Daniel Cousin and Jean-Claude Darcheville to choose from, why would we pay decent money for someone that can’t run anymore?
Do you believe Hartson?
Yes
No
It’s not the first time Hartson has been economical with the truth or engaged in a touch of fantastical punditry, bless him, it really must have hurt him not getting to wear the famous Light Blue shirt.