Former Scottish Player Reveals Why Move To Celtic Never Happened: Did The Hoops Miss Out?

Former Scottish Player Reveals Why Move To Celtic Never Happened: Did The Hoops Miss Out? Michael Stewart has disclosed how close he came to joining Celtic in 2007 after deciding to leave Hibernian during a difficult spell. Speaking on Not Another Football Podcast, Stewart said he wanted out after tensions had grown at Easter Road at Hibs. Several Hibs players had already moved elsewhere, making Parkhead a natural option. Gordon Strachan managed Celtic at the time, while John Park had moved from Hibs to the Glasgow club. Stewart said both showed interest, following moves by Derek Riordan, Chris Killen and Gary Caldwell. The deal, however, depended on Celtic reducing their wage commitments. Stewart recalled that the club needed to move Jiri Jarosik and Thomas Gravesen before making another addition. Celtic asked him to wait. Stewart chose not to remain in limbo. Hearts then returned with an offer, and the midfielder felt he had unfinished business at Tynecastle. He accepted that route instead, ending his Hibs spell with a return to his former club. The episode gives a useful glimpse into how transfer decisions can turn on timing rather than a simple lack of interest. Stewart had a route to Parkhead, yet the club’s squad planning and wage bill created a delay that changed his decision. Reflecting on Not Another Football Podcast, Stewart said: “At the end of that season, I knew, obviously. I was like, ‘I wanted to go.’ “There was a few sort of sniffs. “Gordon [Strachan] was at Celtic at the time, and John Park, who was at Hibs, had gone to Celtic, and there were a few Hibs boys [who] had gone. “Derek [Riordan] had gone, big Chris Killen – remember the striker – he’d gone as well, and Gaz [Caldwell] had gone previously. “So there was a wee chance of that, but they were talking [that] they would need to move on [Jiri] Jarosik and [Thomas] Gravesen, so they were off the wage before. “They were like, ‘If you can hang about and wait’… in between that, Hearts had come back in, and I felt like, ‘I want to go back.’ “I felt like I had unfinished business, and I wanted to go back, so I decided to go back to Hearts.” Did Celtic miss out on Michael Stewart in 2007? GLASGOW, UNITED KINGDOM – JANUARY 30: Chris Burke of Rangers tackles Michael Stewart of Hearts during the CIS Insurance Cup semi final between Rangers and Hearts at Hampden Park on January 30, 2008 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) Celtic’s decision looks less costly when the squad around Stewart is considered. Strachan had already secured Scott Brown from Hibernian for £4.4 million, a Scottish record at the time, and Brown arrived as one of the country’s most sought-after young midfielders. Celtic had therefore committed heavily to a midfielder offering energy, aggression and forward running. Paul Hartley provided another strong option in central midfield, while Barry Robson joined Celtic in January 2008 rather than at the start of that season. That matters because the original argument places all three together in summer 2007, which does not match the timeline. Brown started Celtic’s 2007/08 Champions League qualifying campaign and played in the group stage. Celtic eventually reached the last 16, while the club retained the Scottish Premier League title. Those results don’t prove Stewart would have failed, but they show Strachan’s midfield already had important pieces. Stewart possessed technical quality and experience, yet his Hibs departure followed friction with Collins, and that context mattered. A move to Celtic would have placed him inside another demanding dressing room, with strong competition for midfield places. There was another practical point. Celtic needed room on the wage bill, with Stewart recalling discussions around Jarosik and Gravesen leaving. Waiting could have kept the door open, but Hearts offered certainty and Stewart valued his unfinished business there. So the missed opportunity should not be framed simply as Celtic rejecting a player who could have transformed the side. The club had already spent £4.4m on Brown, retained Hartley and later added Robson. Stewart’s route to Parkhead depended on space being created first, while his own preference shifted once Hearts came back in. The timing, rather than a clear judgement on Stewart’s ability, dictated the outcome.