EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Tommo: James is another Celt with a massive value
ALAN THOMPSON worked with James Forrest seven years ago when the then-teenager was a rookie winger at Celtic.
He quickly made a name for himself and, valued at more than £6-million by his club, became linked with moves to Spurs and Newcastle United.
But injuries hampered his development into a top-class performer on a consistent basis. He also lost his way when Ronny Deila was Parkhead boss.
However, he has blossomed in the past eight months under Brendan Rodgers and fulfilled his early potential. He is now an integral part of the first-team plans.
Former Parkhead coach Thompson is thrilled to see Forrest’s career hit the heights again and told The Sunday Post: “James Forrest is in fantastic form. I’m delighted for him.
“When I was at Celtic with Neil Lennon and Johan Mjallby, we worked very closely with James. Neil identified him from having him in the development side and quickly promoted James when he took over as manager in 2010.
“We knew he had talent, and he was a matchwinner for us on several occasions. He is good with both feet and has a great burst of pace.
“Big teams from down south were scouting him five or six years ago. He kind of lost a little bit of spark for a spell because of injuries.
“But he displayed a strong mentality and showed he is a big character to bounce back and be in the form of his career. Everything appears to have clicked for him under Brendan Rodgers and I’m really pleased for him.
“The interest from the bigger leagues will undoubtedly come again. I don’t know if he’ll want to try England in the near future or wait a couple of years.
“But if he makes it known he wants to play in England, he will not be short of offers. He is an asset to Celtic and yet another one with massive value in the transfer market.”
Thompson has also seen resurgence in his own career. After 20 months out, he is back in the game as assistant manager to Lee Clark at ambitious Bury.
They’ve had an encouraging start as they bid to climb away from the League One relegation zone.
Thompson said: “I’m delighted to be back in football. I kept myself busy by going to see other games and keeping myself ticking over. I took in a lot of Newcastle games at first-team and reserve level and that was enjoyable.
“But there is no substitute for being at the sharp end and this new role is an exciting challenge. This is the first time I’ve been an assistant manager and I’m enjoying that aspect. More responsibility comes with it. Previously I was coach at Celtic, Birmingham and Blackpool.
“I know some people might question why you’d want to go to Bury. The facts are that this is an ambitious club, with a chairman that is full of drive.
“We now have Manchester City’s old training ground and that’s crucial. It makes such a difference for all sorts of reasons, from having the facilities to coach and develop footballers morning, afternoon and night, to enticing players to join. Players will get a good feeling and a positive vibe.
“But we can’t lose sight of our priority and that is to secure our League One status and then kick on from there and aim towards the play-offs next season.
“Changes will be made to the squad in the summer as we have players out of contract.
“We will look at the Scottish market. We know there is talent there and we can tap into that.
“We have a really good crop of kids. In fact, we’ve had a 15-year-old, Will Ferry, in the first-team squad. We had to get permission to get him out of school for an away game at Charlton.
“We also have Callum Styles at 16. He has been involved. Both are left-footers so they are right up my street.
“Only recently we sold a young player to Aston Villa (Jacob Bedeau) for a huge fee. So the youngsters know they have a real chance if they come here.”
Thompson is certain Clark wll take the club places and sees a much more rounded manager after the Geordie’s spell at Kilmarnock.
He left Rugby Park last month to move back to England and Thompson said: “Lee performed very well in his year at Kilmarnock. He kept them in the top league last season and they were top-six when he left. I know he thoroughly enjoyed the experience in Scotland.
“But the lure of getting back into English football was too good to turn down.
“He has definitely benefited from his time in Scotland. He has great organisational skills and terrific manmanagement. I enjoy working with him. I also see a more chilled out individual.
“He doesn’t raise his voice as much. It must have been all that sea air in Ayrshire!”