Miller: a Bhoy no more

CELTIC insisted last night that Liam Miller has turned his back on a deal which would make him one of the best-paid young players in Scottish football history to go to Manchester United.

The Glasgow giants were reeling after indications the out-of-contract Cork man has agreed pre-contract terms with United, tempering Martin O'Neill's jubilation at finally landing exciting Scottish prospect Stephen Pearson from Motherwell.

The Celtic manager expects the signing of midfielder Pearson to go through today after agreeing a £350,000 fee with Motherwell - but the smile soon vanished as it emerged that Miller had decided against a new contract offer and was heading for Old Trafford at the end of the season.

A Celtic spokesman commented: "We have had no conformation from Man Utd of any pre-contractual agreement.

"We made an extremely generous offer to Liam Miller, the biggest salary deal ever put on the table for a young Celtic player who has come up through the ranks.

"This offer was made following detailed consideration of Liam's contribution to the team to date during his 16 first-team starting appearances as well as eventual potential.

"It is a salary package which would make him one of the very best-paid young players in Scottish football history."

Miller would follow in the footsteps of Brian McClair, Lou Macari and Paddy Crerand in moving from Parkhead to United.

But the move will leave a sour taste in the mouth of O'Neill, who had been in contract talks with Miller and his agent.

The 22-year-old's contract expires in the summer and while they were beginning to drag on and the speculation started, the player indicated that he never wanted to leave Celtic for any other side.

It represents another major coup for United manager Alex Ferguson, who had been impressed with Miller's mature performances since he broke into the first team at Parkhead.

Miller has been compared to United skipper Roy Keane for his energetic running and goals from midfield this season and former Celtic midfielder David Hannah reckons the club has paid the price for not moving early to tie Miller to a new deal.

"It would be a great loss to Celtic because they've obviously brought him on as a young player and they're the ones that really should benefit from him.

"In Celtic's case they have maybe left it a bit late in signing him and I'm sure Martin O'Neill will be disappointed that he's going to lose such a good player."

United are set to announce the deal and the 30-year-old midfielder, who spent more than two seasons at Parkhead, believes the young Bhoy could find himself forced out of the picture as a result.

Hannah, now playing for Ross County who travel to Parkhead tomorrow - continued: "If that is the case I think he'll find he'll probably not play much.

"I certainly wouldn't play him if he was leaving in the summer so I think he'll find out that he will be out of the picture now.

"But if Martin O'Neill needs to play him I'm sure he will do if he's short of players or gets injuries.

"It's bad for Celtic because at the end of the day they have spent a lot of money in bringing him through the systems, the youth team, reserve team and into the first team.

"I'm not sure whether they will get compensated but I'm sure Martin O'Neill will be a bit miffed that he has actually chosen Manchester United over Celtic."

Hannah expects it to be a slow process for Miller to break into the first-team at Old Trafford but he feels he can make the grade.

"Again it's going to be a learning curve for him. He is going to have to learn. He obviously won't get in the team right away but maybe he is one for the future.

"Alex Ferguson will put him on the bench and give him a bit of experience and you never know.

"He could go there and be a revelation but to me if he was going to Manchester United it's going to take a bit of time to get in."

The youngster has already scored five times this season, one of which was a stunning strike against Anderlecht in November, but he was left on the bench for Saturday's Old Firm victory over Rangers.