PAUL HARTLEY�S Celtic career appears to be over after the midfielder failed to receive an offer to re-sign for the Parkhead club.

PAUL HARTLEY'S Celtic career appears to be over after the midfielder failed to receive an offer to re-sign for the Parkhead club.

After making 33 appearances for the Hoops last season, Hartley has been disappointed no offer has come from Celtic where new manager Tony Mowbray is expected to go for a more youthful engine room next season.

Now Ipswich boss Roy Keane - who played against the Scotland cap during the Irishman's short spell as a Celt in 2006 - is ready to join the managers willing to discuss a fresh start for the 32-year-old.

Hartley still has the option of a move to Greece where Iraklis Salonika have offered him a two-year deal.

Sheffield United are also monitoring the situation and would be interested in taking him to the Championship.

Nearer to home, Hearts - who sold him to Celtic for £1.1m in January 2006 - are also interested.

Hartley's camp today confirmed there have been no further developments regarding the player's future.

Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink also became a former Celtic player at midnight after the Hoops failed to activate the 12-month option they held on the deal he signed in a £3.4m transfer from PSV Eindhoven three years ago.

The Dutch striker has already been sounded out about a move back to Holland with PSV, while he has been offered a contract with Greek club Larissa.

But until his deal ran out, he had refused to consider the offers already put to him.

Vennegoor had indicated he would be happy to spend one more year at Parkhead. However, after another injury-ravaged season when he managed to score just six goals, his wages have become a bit too rich for the club.

Mowbray wants to bring down the average age of the squad he inherited from Strachan, and recruiting players with a resale value will continue to be the route they follow in this transfer window.

So far, only keeper Lukasz Zaluska has been recruited, while Dominic Cervi is also officially a Celt after the giant American keeper's long wait for an EU passport reached a happy conclusion.

The squad reported back for training today. Mowbray has just 11 days to prepare them for their opening match in Australia against Brisbane Roar, and the first competitive match arrives four weeks today when the third qualifying round for the Champions League kicks off.