Bolton Target Wants To Stay Local

By Mark Heys
June 13 2006

Bolton target Quinton Fortune has snubbed a move to Scottish giants Celtic because he is unhappy with the terms that where offered to him.

The South African international has been in lengthy talks with the Hoops for a couple of weeks and looked likely to be moving North of the border following his recent release by Manchester United.

Celtic wanted reassurance that any old injury problems had healed and therefore requested a further medical scan which held up the transfer even further and prompted the player to withdraw from the deal.

Furthermore Fortune was unhappy that he was only offered a twelve month deal and will now look for a move to either the Wanderers or Manchester City to continue his career.

Football agent Francis Martin revealed that his client did not want to gamble on his future security for the sake of a one-year contract but nonetheless thanked Celtic for their professional approach during negotiations.

"I spoke to Peter Lawwell (Celtic Chief Executive) this morning and he said, because of Quinton’s injury history, Celtic could only offer him a one-year deal. Celtic had some concerns about his scans, but it was more to do with his injury record." said Martin

"However, Quinton did not want to uproot his family and bring them to Scotland just for one year. He is the type of person who would move lock, stock and barrel to a new club, not go somewhere and stay in rented accommodation.

"So he wants to stay in the north-west and will probably sign for Manchester City or Bolton."

"I would like to thank Celtic for the way they conducted themselves - they could not have been more accommodating."

Another Wanderers midfield target is also likely to decide on his future in the coming days. Liverpool's Didi Hamann has had an offer from Bolton and is now taking time out to decide whether to move to the Reebok Stadium.

"The decision to sell me has not entirely come as a shock to me, but deciding whether to go or not is very hard for me, I'll be back in England later this week and that's when I'll decide whether to go to Bolton. They're the only club which have shown any interest." said the former German international