This is not a drill, I repeat, this is not a drill. Efe Ambrose won’t be playing with Celtic anytime soon, as he is finally off on loan.
Only it isn’t the loan we all thought would happen by now. Instead of being off to Blackburn Rovers, Ambrose is off to an emergency loan to Scottish Championship side Hibernian.
It didn’t take long for Ambrose to find a new home after the Blackburn deal was officially scuttled today thanks to work permit issues.
The man whom Celtic supporters thought would bleed the front office dry before actually leaving is actually gone. Sure he’ll be wearing the green and white still, but it will be of a different variety and class all together.
Former Celtic star and manager Neil Lennon found a perfect emergency loan situation, as the Daily Record notes he would be without three players for Wednesday’s clash with St. Mirren.
Those three players are Paul Hanlon, Liam Fontaine and Jordan Forster. All three are defenders for Hibs, meaning they are deeply in trouble in terms of players available.
Ambrose will be on a 93-day loan, essentially running him to the end of the season with Hibs.
It should be a good marriage for player and boss, as Lennon is the one that brought Ambrose to Celtic Park back in 2012. Ambrose in turn will finally see the field, something he didn’t do at all this campaign with the Hoops.
So, pop the bottles of champaign or raise that pint of Guinness as the man who just wouldn’t go away finally will. After all, his contract is finally up at the end of this season and the Bhoys won’t be on the hook for his salary anymore either.
It is once again a good day to be Celtic.
Just when i despair that Efe Ambrose is returning to Celtic, I get that happy feeling!! Thank you Hibs! Would it help if i pack his case??
— Brendan Quinn (@quinzo82) February 27, 2017
However, it appears that Hibs aren’t going to get away without some stick from those around Scottish football for this move.
As TalkingBaws points out, the stick came from far and wide.
The stick varied from pointing out Ambrose’s affinity for scoring for the other team…
…to outright laughter at Hibs’ “emergency loan”
and then this gem about Ambrose’s abilities…
Efe Ambrose. Absolutely shocking footballer. Watching that guy should give you hope of going pro
— wavyseal#1 (@iissa_42) February 27, 2017
…oh, and the mighty questioning of the need of defenders from clueless fans.
Why do hibs even want Efe Ambrose, wouldn't take him at Dunfermline😂
— Dylan Buist (@bisto1885) February 27, 2017
I think you get the point, Celtic fans are happy, other fans have no clue that three players are injured for Hibs and others are just piling on Ambrose’s awful play over the past few years.
Next: Could Celtic Love Keep Tierney in the Hoops Longer?
No matter how you slice it, this is a win-win for all involved and that is what is important here.