Celtic 'could not compete'

CELTIC knew of Manchester United's interest in Liam Miller before Christmas but could do nothing more to keep him, Parkhead boss Martin O'Neill has admitted.

The Celtic manager's fears were realised as the Premiership champions signed the 22-year-old midfielder on a pre-contract deal.

But it hardly came as a shock as United chief executive David Gill warned Celtic executive director Peter Lawwell before Christmas they would try to sign him.

O'Neill admitted: "There was some contact between the Manchester United chief executive and Peter Lawwell just prior to Christmas.

"They said they were definitely interested in the player and were maybe looking to do something in January time."

Celtic could not compete with the money which United could offer Miller but O'Neill jumped to the defence of the board by insisting they could not have done any more to keep him.

He continued: "Liam's pre-season went very well for him and that's when we wanted to hold the talks.

"Unfortunately that's when the agent went on holiday for a couple of weeks and said he would sort it out when he got back. Of course time waits for no man.

"Liam started to do very well in the Champions League and in league games which was great. But the better he did the better bargaining position he was in and so it came.

"Hindsight is a wonderful thing but the offer we made was excellent considering the number of games Liam had played at that particular time and the likelihood that we saw him progressing into being one of the mainstays of the side.

"I wouldn't like to get into what was demanded and asked for. The player and his agent decided not to do it.

"Manchester United obviously are a fairly big calling and that's the way it goes."

O'Neill believes Miller's big move has come at least 18 months too early and he has told the midfielder he has turned his back on being one of the mainstays of his side.

He stressed: "My own view is that the number of games Liam has played and the potential he has shown he will do it and go on to do well anyway.

"But I would have liked him to stay and I thought that would have been the right thing to do for at least 18 months.

"It's a big league Manchester United are playing in and they're are one of the best teams in the world so I can understand the call.

"But he was going to be one of the mainstays of this side. He was making good progress and by the end of the season I would have hoped he would not just have been a regular in the side but also have taken over from some of the older players."

The Cork-born player's immediate future is not so assured after it emerged that he would be sidelined for six to eight weeks with a groin injury although O'Neill will still consider him for his first team before he eventually joins United on July 1.

O'Neill said: "Regardless of what would have happened he was always going to get it sorted out immediately after the Rangers game.

"We will get him sorted out and will rehab him and we will work on the assumption that he will come back and be involved with us and that's the way we would want to run it.

"We have a long season ahead of us and he remains our player until June 30. But in the short term he is not available for selection."

Whether the far-from-forgiving Celtic supporters will be so kind to Miller remains to be seen.

O'Neill concluded: "I wouldn't have a notion of what the majority of the Celtic view would be.

"At the end of the day he is with us and when he recuperates in six or eight weeks' time we will all have a look at the situation again."

Former England captain Terry Butcher has tipped Miller to take the Premiership by storm.

"Celtic will be raging about this. Manchester United have got a steal because he's a very big talent.

"No-one saw this coming. He was a big favourite at Celtic and I think he will make a serious impact in England.

"Celtic have been talking to him for a while and everybody thought he would sign a deal there. I think he will fit in well at Manchester United.

"He will have some tough competition at Old Trafford, but I believe he's got the right pedigree to succeed there.

"He's not a big lad but he's a real battler, and he is someone who can get forward into the box he's a typical Manchester United player in many respects."