The potential problems ahead for Greg Taylor
Greg Taylor will be a big success at Celtic if he can handle the mental strain that comes with playing for the Old Firm.
That’s the advice from his former Kilmarnock team-mate, Kirk Broadfoot, who made a similar move from St Mirren to Rangers in 2007.
Broadfoot revealed the scrutiny got so bad at one point that he had people turning up at his house and throwing things at his window.
The defender admits it was a relief to get away from Scotland when he moved to Blackpool after five seasons at Ibrox.
He hopes Taylor won’t have to experience anything similar after completing his big-money move to Parkhead.
Broadfoot said: “Moving from Kilmarnock to Celtic, the mental side and the pressure that comes with it will be on a different level for Greg.
“He’ll be under a lot of scrutiny. If he can handle that, he’ll be fine.
“When I moved from St Mirren to Rangers, it was that mental pressure that I probably found the hardest to adjust to.
“It’s everybody’s cup final when they play one half of the Old Firm, and that brings its own challenges.
“Everywhere you go on the street, people are either abusing you, or not giving you a minute’s peace.
“It got to the stage that people were turning up at my door, or throwing stuff at my windows.
“It was actually a relief to move to England after five years at Rangers.
“I’d just had my son at that time, and it was good to get the family away from it.
“Hopefully Greg won’t have to go through anything like that, and can go on to be a big success at Celtic.”
Broadfoot admires Taylor’s consistency over the past few seasons, and feels the full-back merited the opportunity to play at a higher level.
The defender, on the move himself in the past week by rejoining St Mirren after Killie released him, added: “It’s a great move for the wee man, and it was only fair that Kilmarnock let him go.
“He had been getting a bit frustrated towards the end of the window.
“He’s worked hard and it’s a chance for him to move up a level. So the best of luck to him.”