Strachan motivated by winning

Lisa Gray

The new Hoops manager's top priority at both Coventry and Southampton was to keep the clubs in the Premiership. At Celtic, he will be expected to win the title and make progress in Europe and he admits that pressure is what prompted him to end his 15-month break from football.

He said: "The reason I'm at Celtic is because I want to start winning things. When

I left Southampton, I was fortunate enough to be offered five or six jobs but most of them were the very same as I'd done before so it was the same motivation, the same tactics, the same everything it would just be repeating yourself.

"My philosophy has to be changed because the two teams I've had before, no matter what everyone says, their philosophy was to stay in the Premiership.

"This is different. I'm taking over a team that was second top of the league and I have to win the league so it's exciting for me because it's winning time.

"Hopefully some of my influence can rub off on the players. I hope some of their winning mentality rubs off on me as well."

Meanwhile, Martin O'Neill has revealed that one of his final acts as Celtic manager was to clear out a number of want-away players before the arrival of Strachan.

The Northern Irishman smoothed the way for Momo Sylla's Leicester move and he hinted that more players will follow having consulted with his successor.

The Guinean midfielder, who endured a miserable time out of the first-team picture since his move from St Johnstone in August 2001, looks set to be joined by Robert Douglas.

O'Neill said: "Momo's going to Leicester and it's a move I know he's looking forward to because it should give him a fresh start.

"Obviously it's all been done very much in tandem with Gordon, but I did think it would be beneficial for him if we could clear the decks a little by sorting out one or two of these things so he can concentrate on other matters."