On-loan Celtic defender Stephen Welsh has revealed how deadline day really went in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports.
Welsh has been in form for Motherwell this season, but was recalled to the club in January due to injuries. Well fans were understandably disappointed, and the defender was used as back-up during his time back at the Celts.
He was sent back out on loan to Motherwell on deadline day, with both sides extremely happy to get the deal over the line.
Speaking to Sky, Welsh said:
"It was right up until the last few minutes. It was a hectic day, and there were a lot of fifty-fifties of will it happen or will it not?
But I was just happy to get it over the line. What's important for me is to go and play for the rest of the season, especially with how good we have been. It is a wee bit difficult because you kind of don't know where you are going to be.
Because we've had such a good few months, I was itching to get back. When I went back [to Celtic], I wasn't really playing, and it can be difficult.
But the conversations between the manager here and at Celtic were good; they were very open and honest. Although it did go up until the last few minutes, I think both parties are happy with how it ended up.
Pretty much from when I went back into Celtic, it was fifty-fifty on whether I would come back here. I can only thank the club for waiting and pushing away other targets. It was down to the manager and the board at Motherwell to come and get me again, and I am very grateful that they held on."
Now back with Motherwell, Welsh is raring to go against Rangers in their next match:
"It's no secret how big the game is on Wednesday. Obviously, when Celtic or Rangers come to Fir Park, it's massive for the club, but this one has got a wee bit of an edge to it.
We performed really well at Ibrox and came away disappointed that we didn't get something out of the game. The points gap is a lot tighter than everyone thinks, so to go and get a victory on Wednesday night would be massive for us.
It's not really spoken about [finishing in the top three], to be honest. It's an old cliché in football, but we will take it one game at a time.
We've had the disappointment of having the last two games cancelled, so everyone is raring to go, and there is no better way to play here against Rangers."
Could a potential permanent exit be on the cards for Welsh?
With Welsh clearly enjoying his time at Motherwell, could he make a permanent move to the club from Celtic in the summer? It's possible, but important to note that the defender is still contracted to the Hoops until May 2027.
Welsh seems to be quite far down the pecking order at Parkhead, with Cameron Carter-Vickers, Liam Scales, Austin Trusty and Dane Murray being preferred by the manager. If there is no room for him, it would be hurtful to keep sending him out on loan deals, especially considering we're likely paying for a large bulk of his wages.
Maybe a permanent move to Motherwell in the summer could be the way forward for everyone. Fans of the Fir Park side clearly enjoy watching him play and think he is a brilliant asset to the club, so why not let them enjoy him full-time without the risk of a recall? It only seems fair, especially if there is no place for him in Glasgow.
Welsh moving could potentially pave the way for the Hoops making an offer for in-form Motherwell winger Tawanda Maswanhise. The player has 13 goals and two assists in 21 league matches, and Celtic fans were actually hoping that the club would make an offer for him in the winter transfer window. This didn't happen though, as Martin O'Neill instead opted for Joel Mvuka and Junior Adamu.
With those signings being loan deals, if they were to both return to their clubs, then Celtic could look domestically.