FORMER Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths is poised for a shock return to football – with Australian SECOND Division side Mandurah City.
The former Scotland international had his contract scrapped by the champions at the turn of the year after he had been returned by Dundee early from his original season-long loan agreement.
Griffiths, who will be 32 in 11 days’ time, joined third-tier Falkirk in a short-term deal, but was back on the look-out for a club when they failed to achieve a place in the Championship play-off.
TAKING A BACK SEAT…Leigh Griffiths sits it out after being substituted in Celtic’s 3-0 Scottish Cup win over Falkirk at Parkhead on April 3 2021.
The frontman, who claimed 123 goals for the Hoops, has agreed a move in principle and is ready to put pen to paper on a deal until the end of the season on September 25.
He is due to play in the club’s two home matches on August 27 and September 3.
Griffiths, who cost Neil Lennon £1.2million when he joined from Hibs in January 2014, won 14 honours during his stay in the east end of Glasgow.
He collected only three goals during his time on Tayside and hit a mere two for the Bairns. He trained with Livingston during the summer, but there was no offer of a deal from the West Lothian outfit.
The Aussie outfit announced the controversial forward’s arrival this morning and insisted he was one of the biggest-ever signings Down Under.
THE WAY WE WERE…Leigh Griffiths heads past Ibrox keeper Steve Simonsen in Celtic’s 2-0 League Cup semi-final victory at Hampden on February 2015.
A statement said: “Mandurah City are delighted to announce that former Scotland and Celtic forward Leigh Griffiths will be joining the club.
“The experienced 31 year old striker is a proven goal scorer in the Scottish Premier League and on an International level.
“Born in Edinburgh, Griffiths’ senior career commenced at the age of 16 for Livingston FC.
“He then went on to play for Dundee, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Hibernian before signing for Celtic where he made over 200 appearances scoring over 115 goals.
DOWN AND OUT…Leigh Griffiths reflects on a missed opportunity.
“Throughout Leigh’s career so far, multiple awards have been won which include PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year, Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League Player of the Year & Scottish Football Writers Player of the Year.
“Leigh represented Scotland at an under-19 and under-21 level and was part of the squad that reached the 2011 UEFA Under-21 Championship play-offs, narrowly losing out to Iceland. With his undoubtable talent Leigh went on to make 22 appearances for his country, scoring four goals including the two well known free kicks against England in 2017.
“Mandurah Head Coach John Baird is thrilled to have completed the services of the Scotsman for the remainder of the year. Leigh is undoubtedly one of the biggest signings in not only Mandurah’s history, but one of the biggest in Australian NPL & State League football history.
