Hartley moves to heal Hearts rift after dream Celtic move
The midfielder, 30, ended months of uncertainty over his future when he signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with the Scottish champions.
The move allows him to join forces with former Hearts club-mate Steven Pressley, who made the switch to Parkhead at the start of the month.
The pair – along with Jambos goalkeeper Craig Gordon – were dubbed the ‘Riccarton Three’ for the now infamous statement where Pressley revealed “significant unrest” within the Tynecastle dressing room while flanked by his two team-mates.
All three attended separate disciplinary hearings on the orders of majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov, before Pressley was released from his contract within weeks.
Hartley has now followed Pressley to his boyhood heroes and is determined to bask in the euphoria of finally winning a move to Celtic, rather than sling any dirt at Hearts.
He said: “I had a fantastic three-and-a-half years there and I don’t want to say anything about the club.
“I leave a lot of good friends there and I had a great time. This is a new challenge for me. I’m a Celtic player now and I just want to concentrate on doing well here.
“People say it was a low time but I’ve tried to get on with my job playing football. That’s what I get paid to do.
“People say it was stressful but, as soon as you go out on that football park, you go out there to impress and do well and forget about everything else.”
Speaking of his reunion with Pressley, Hartley added: “We’re the Riccarton Two now! I obviously know Steven and I’ve spoken to him over the last couple of weeks.’’
Meanwhile, Celtic manager Gordon Strachan insists life goes on without Shaun Maloney, 24, who completed a £1million move to Aston Villa late last night.
The forward has been reunited with former boss Martin O’Neill after failing to agree an extension to his Celtic deal, which was due to expire in the summer.
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