Celtic coach Stevie Woods has revealed he received secret training footage of Craig Gordon during the ‘keeper’s time at Rangers, signing the Scotland international from under the Ibrox side’s nose.
In a new interview with The Scottish Sun, Woods has spoken at length about the circumstances that led to the Scotland international signing back in 2014.
It involved clandestine videos, hush-hush training sessions and all sorts of genius schemes that has eventually resulted in an incredibly fruitful relationship for both parties.
As quoted by the paper, Woods said of scouting Gordon:
I’d kept an eye on Craig Gordon during his year’s training with Rangers. I actually got footage of him training sent to me on the quiet.
I felt convinced Gordon could get his career going again.
I don’t know why Rangers didn’t sign him. History should have been different, they had Craig in the building.
I said to his agent: ‘I want him in at Lennoxtown. I’ll clear the place, I don’t want people to know’.
My fear was if it had come out he was training at Celtic after Rangers, and we also didn’t sign him, then it would be a big negative for Craig. People at the training ground were sworn to secrecy.
It’s an interesting insight into what it took to bring him to the club.
At one point it looked like the player may have to retire at an early age after bad injuries and a lengthy time away from any sort of first-team action.
Woods and Celtic have been fantastic for him though and he’s actually gone on to play more games for the Bhoys than any other side.
There’s little sign of him being removed from the number one spot at the Hoops anytime soon either.
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