John Hartson has revealed his disappointment that he was never given the opportunity for a formal goodbye to the Celtic support.

The former striker has revealed that he was taken aback by a phone call from ex-Hoops boss Gordon Strachan while he was on holiday telling him that a deal had been agreed to sell him to West Brom.

“I have no grudges against Gordon but I feel as though that whole period was a very difficult point in my life,” he said. “Divorce is never easy for anyone and I hadn’t long split up with my wife and my kids were living down south.

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“But I was on holiday just before pre-season and I got a call from Gordon to say that the club had accepted an offer and a sale had been agreed for me to go to Bryan Robson at West Brom. It was just incredible how quickly everything changed.

“I had scored on the last day of the season when we drew 2-2 with Aberdeen up at Pittodrie but I had had no inkling that would be my last game for Celtic.

“I always feel a little bit of envy when I see players taking a lap of the pitch at Celtic because it would have been nice to be able to say cheerio that way, to say thank you to a pretty incredible support.

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“I spent five years at the club and had arguably some of the biggest highlights of my career there. I always felt that I had a great rapport with the fans, I still do, and it was hard been told so abruptly that it was over.

“I would have loved the chance to show my appreciation to the club and to the support but it wasn’t to be. I am not bitter about it. Life goes on and there are always new heroes at any club but it always felt like I was just told that was it.”