BBC SPORT | CELTIC | O'Neill: Coventry made first approach

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Friday, 3 August, 2001, 15:12 GMT 16:12 UK

O'Neill: Coventry made first approach

Momo Sylla, John Hartson and Bobby Petta

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has angrily rejected claims by Coventry City chairman Bryan Richardson that new signing John Hartson had been tapped before completing a move to Parkhead.

O'Neill clinched the Ł6.5m signing of the 26-year-old Wales international on Thursday along with Steve Guppy from Leicester City and Momo Sylla from St Johnstone.

And the Celtic manager questioned the Coventry chief's recollection of how the Hartson transfer had been set in motion.

"If Bryan was to go back over the sequence of events and ask himself who made the first phone call, he might come up with a different version," said O'Neill.

Gordon asked me not to get involved in a war of words with the chairman
John Hartson

Asked to elaborate on what he meant, O'Neill snapped: "You'll have to ask Bryan who initiated it."

In other words, Celtic are saying that Coventry made the first move.

Hartson said: "I spoke to Gordon Strachan Coventry manager last night.

"He was disappointed, but he told me two or three weeks ago how big Celtic were when they were having talks.

"He said they were a massive club and he thought I'd do well. He said 'all the best'.

Hartson refused to get involved in a public row with Richardson, claiming: "Gordon asked me not to get involved in a war of words with the chairman.

"I wished them good luck. I have respect for the chairman."