WHY HENDRY REJECTED CELTIC FOR BELGIANS

JACK HENDRY has revealed it was an easy decision to quit Celtic last month.

The Scotland centre-back rejected the opportunity to go back to the Hoops for the remaining year of his contract, but elected to sign for KV Oostende.

The defender had been lon loan with the Belgian club for the season and they had the option to pay £1.75million to make the move permanent – if Hendry knocked back his parent club.

The 26-year-old, who cost £1.2million when he was signed by Brendan Rodgers from Dundee in January 2018, found the Glasgow club in turmoil following the collapse of the move for Eddie Howe as Neil Lennon’s replacement.

Hendry said: “I wanted to wait until the end of the season and KV were constantly pushing, but there was very little communication from Celtic.

ON THE BALL…Jack Hendry during a rare first-team appearance for the Hoops.

“For me, it was key to be at a club who really wanted me and Oostende went all out to get a deal done.

“That convinced me to sign there rather than going back to Celtic with one year on my contract and not knowing what the future was going to hold.

“Celtic had just missed out on Eddie Howe and there wasn’t great communication on what was going to happen going forward.

“It was difficult for me to go back to a club who didn’t have a manager and weren’t really communicating with me. The only feedback I got was when pre-season was restarting, there was very little else.”

Hendry, who has penned a three-year deal at his new club, continued: “It was ongoing throughout the season, they wanted me to sign on a permanent basis.

“They saw a lot of potential in me and in the deal they had agreed with Celtic at the start of the season. So, it was a no-brainer for me to go to KV because I know the club, the people, the team and I did well in Belgium last season.

“I am excited to build on that. I know how much KV value me and even going into the new season I have been the captain.”

BIG SHOT…Jack Hendry’s fires an effort at goal during Scotland’s 2-0 Euro loss to the Czech Republic at Hampden in the summer.

Hendry, speaking to the Daily Record, added: “I learned a lot from Brendan Rodgers, Kolo Toure and his team.

“They were brilliant for me. Brendan signed me from Dundee and playing under him was a great learning curve.

“My game and football intelligence really improved. I didn’t get as many games as I would have liked at the end, but I still learned so much from Brendan and his coaching staff.

“There are some pointers and advice I still take with me in my career just now.

“I really appreciate the opportunity Brendan gave me. “

“It maybe didn’t work out the way I wanted but sometimes that is football.”