Rogic endorsement of direction of travel

Tom Rogic is good.  Very good.  He has scored cup winning goals, league winning goals, scored against Newco at three different venues, and most deliciously, has scored Champions League qualification goals.  That old football adage, “Yes, but can he do it when it really matters?”, is never asked about Tom.

With one year left on his existing Celtic contract, he is off with Australia to the World Cup, the most prominent shop window in the game, where good players with a one-year balance on their contracts are a premium.

The news that he signed a five-year contract yesterday has surprised many, including me.  One week ago today, when I asked a ‘senior source at Celtic’ the prospects or retaining his services, I was not encouraged.  “The money on offer in England……..”

This deal is an endorsement of the direction the club is heading from within the dressing room.  Players know where the club is going, Tom knows.  That’s why he has signed.  I am sure his contract reflects his ability, but I am also sure he could have earned more elsewhere.  And five years!!  That’s nearly a Jim McLean!

Good luck tomorrow, Tom, let’s have a repeat of last season’s Cup Final.