Tommy Johnson has left former Celtic teammate Henrik Larsson in the lurch.
On Sunday, it looked like any chance of Tommy Johnson returning to Celtic. In fact, we even covered the news that a Parkhead comeback looked to be off the table.
Johnson was supposed to be heading to Southend United. Celtic legend Henrik Larsson was in line to take the vacancy, and Johnson was following his former Bhoys teammate to the League One strugglers.
However, Southend confirmed on Tuesday that the deal had fallen apart, as whilst Larsson and Johan Mjallby – another former Celtic favourite – were on board, Johnson had pulled out.
Johnson was in line for the role of Head of Recruitment having left Nottingham Forest over the summer, but pulled out at the last minute to take a job elsewhere, according to Southend at least.
Southend felt that Johnson was integral to the managerial team as he had a great knowledge of the Football League, and without him involved, the deal for Larsson is now off.
So just where is Johnson going? Reports from the Scottish Daily Mail (back page, 28/08) suggested that Neil Lennon wanted Johnson back at Celtic, eyeing up a scouting role for his former Bhoys teammate.
That move failed to materialise, and a move looks complicated given that Celtic only today confirmed the appointment of Nick Hammond as their new head of football operations.
Maybe there’s still room for Johnson as an additional scout, but with Southend chairman Ron Martin telling talkSPORT that Johnson is set for a surprise move to another League One club, a Parkhead return still doesn’t seem to be on the cards despite him becoming available again.
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