Mowbray yet to decide on Celtic captaincy

Published on Sunday 5 July 2009 23:31

STEPHEN McManus could be set to lose the Celtic captaincy after manager Tony Mowbray revealed he had yet to decide who his skipper will be.

Mowbray says the defender has all the qualities necessary to be a leader on and off the park. However, the new Celtic manager believes there are others within the Parkhead dressing room who also have the potential to be captain and he admitted the role could even go to a new summer signing.

"I don't know Stephen's own thoughts on it," said Mowbray. "I'll see what he thinks, how much that decision would impact on him, positively or negatively. I haven't seen any reason why Stephen doesn't fit all the criteria. He is a very imposing man and he seems like a gentleman.

"Captaincy is important for the standards you set. At a club like this, he has to lead by example on and off the field and Stephen seems as though he has the capabilities to deal with all those things no problem.

"But I would suggest there are one or two others within the club who might also fit that criteria and there might also be one or two signings that fit it."

Meanwhile, midfielder Paul Hartley is expected to sign for Bristol City today after a successful two-and-half years at Celtic.

"I had a terrific spell there," Hartley said. "I won every trophy that there was to play for. What most sticks in my memory is the game at Tannadice in the last game of season 2007-08 where we clinched the league, but just being there for two-and-a-half years was a special time for me, to live the dream as they say.

"When you're growing up and you support a team, you always dream of playing for them.

"I was very fortunate that Gordon Strachan gave me the opportunity to live that dream and I just savoured every day I was at the club."