Former Chairman admits he didn’t want star to join Celtic
![GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - MAY 26: Joe Ledley celebrates with team-mate Georgios Samaras of Celtic after scoring a goal during the William Hill Scottish Cup Final match between Celtic and Hibernian at Hampden Stadium on May 26, 2013 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images) GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - MAY 26: Joe Ledley celebrates with team-mate Georgios Samaras of Celtic after scoring a goal during the William Hill Scottish Cup Final match between Celtic and Hibernian at Hampden Stadium on May 26, 2013 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/2d4eab5401ac48d2dc859ee346387c674553a5811dd44ea913240cc7b8cf85c7.jpg)
The former Cardiff City chairman has admitted that he didn’t want the Welsh midfielder to complete his move to Celtic back in 2010.
Former Cardiff City chairman Steve Borley recently admitted on Twitter that he did everything in his power to prevent Joe Ledley from joining Celtic when his contract with the Welsh club ran out in 2010.
Borley claimed that he was ready to offer Ledley a new contract that would have seen him become the highest paid player at the club. But behind the scenes changes at the club at that time did not help his cause. Neither did the fact that Ledley’s agent was apparently keen for him to move to Celtic.
I did my best to persuade Joe to stay and club to offer him a deal which at the time would have made him highest paid player but we had a new CEO who did not understand the transfer rules and an agent who was hell bent on moving him to Celtic. Stoke were very keen as well. https://t.co/jvJMhNaXvt
— Steve Borley (@SteveCMB) April 18, 2020
Ledley himself has disputed those claims though, pointing out that he was not set to be the highest earner at Cardiff City. He also revealed that Borley was the only person at the club who held any contract talks with him. Ultimately he would let his contract expire and moved to Celtic.
In hindsight, the move paid of very well for Ledley. He spent a fantastic three-and-a-half seasons at Celtic, that saw him add four titles to his trophy cabinet. He would eventually move to Crystal Palace in January 2014.
Looking back, Ledley can definitely be proud of his career. He has made 77 appearances for the Wales national side and even put on the captain’s armband for them. And joining Celtic back in 2010 is something that he himself described as the ‘best decision of my life‘.
At the moment, he is signed to Australian side Newcastle Jets.
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