The 30-year-old finally quit Celtic Park for Blackburn Rovers before the close of the summer window.
Former Celtic defender Charlie Mulgrew has admitted via the Lancashire Telegraph that he could have left for Blackburn Rovers in January.
Mulgrew finally made the move south on the final day of the summer transfer window, with his Parkhead contract having expired two months previous.
And ahead of a possible debut for Rovers this weekend, the 30-year-old believes it was the right decision to leave the Scottish premiership champions after six seasons.
“I’m glad it’s happened now,” Mulgrew told the Lancashire Telegraph. “There was a possibility in January. I spoke to one or two people and there was a chance of it happening.
“But it wasn’t to be and, for whatever reason, it didn’t happen.
“But it was a move which excited me then so I’m delighted to be here now.”
He added: “It was a huge decision. It wasn’t a quick decision. It took me months to decide what I was going to do.
“But now I’ve done it I’ve realised it’s definitely the right decision.”
Mulgrew had played just five times for Celtic in last season’s Premiership at the time of Blackburn’s approach, due to separate knee, thigh and hamstring problems.
However, nothing came of Paul Lambert’s advances and the versatile left-footer went on to claim his fifth straight Scottish title before linking up with another of his fellow countrymen, Owen Coyle.
This will be Mulgrew’s second stint south of the border, having previously played for Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southend United between 2006 and 2008.
The Glaswegian, who began his career with Dundee United and later turned out for Aberdeen, has 24 caps for Scotland.
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