HAYES HOPES HOOPS SPOT CAN SPARK CAPS
IChief Football Writer T seems faintly ridiculous now given the huge contribution which he subsequently made to Celtic both as a player and then assistant manager to his close friend Tommy Burns.
But whenen Bi Billy lly Stark wa wass signed from om AberdeenAber deen back in 1987 987 theth e newsne ws was greeted d with distinct coolness, if notno t downdo wnright dismay,a y, by many of their supporters.pp or ter s.
There coul could d be no doubting th the e cu cultured ltured midfielder’s s abil abil- ity – he hada d helped the e Pittodrie e club to win n two Pre- - mier League titles, two Scottish Cups and one League Cup in the four preceding years. But at the age of 30 the widespread feeling at the time was that his best days as a player were firmly behind him, that his powers were beginning to diminish. Having just lost Mo Johnston, Brian McClair, Alan McInally and Murdo MacLeod, some occupants of The Jungle were far from impr impressed.es se d. Star Stark k would, how how- ever, more than justify Billy Mc McNeill’sNeil l’s faith in him and prov prove e an invaluable servant for Celtic in that cent centenary enary season and be beyond.yond . Like Ro Ronnnie Simpson an and d PatPa t Stan Stantonto n befor before e him and Lubomir Moravcik since, he showed that age is no barrier to doing well in the East End of Glasgow.
It is fair to say the £1.3million acquisition of Jonny Hayes from Aberdeen last week has also been rather underwhelming for many Celtic supporters.
They are hoping to see Brendan Rodgers bring in expensive and glamorous foreign imports who can help them make an even greater impact in the Champions League in the new season and possibly even reach the knockout stages this summer.
Hayes, who turns 30 at the start of next month, is certainly an outstanding professional who Rodgers knows well having worked with him at Reading at the start of his coaching career.
But will the Republic of Ireland internationalist really make much of a difference to them domestically never mind in Europe? A fair few remain to be convinced.
STARK, who has just been appointed manager at ambitious Lowland League club East Kilbride, has no doubt the winger will win them around just as he himself did following his own move from Aberdeen to Celtic 30 years ago.
“I suppose there is a comparison there with Jonny Hayes and myself,” he said. “He has played with Aberdeen, who have been Celtic’s biggest rivals, for the last few seasons and has now moved to Parkhead.
“It is a real double whammy for Aberdeen. They haven’t only lost one of their best players, he has joined their main opponents. I certainly don’t have any doubts Jonny will do well at Celtic.
“The grumbling there has been about his signing, about him ‘only’ costing around £1million, happened with me to an extent. You are termed ‘a bargain buy’.
“But I was able to overcome any scepticism there was early on, play a part in the team doing well and enjoy success.
“I am sure Jonny will do the same. We are different types of players obviously. He is a bit quicker than I was. But his whole package is good.
“He is a real out-and-out winger because he takes people on, he can score, he can finish, but he works hard for the team as well.
“That is what will have interested Brendan I am sure. Everyone has to work hard for the team under him. He also likes wide players. I think Jonny will surprise quite a few folk.”
Stark certainly did. In fact, he made an instant impression. He scored the only goal of the first Old Firm game of the season against reigning