ENGLISH CLUBS QUEUE UP FOR STOKES

planned to take up the option, however, talks with Stokes and his representatives brokered a mutual agreement to part company. Stokes signed for Celtic in 2010 and made 192 appearances for the club, scoring 77 goals. New Rotherham boss Alan Stubbs, who enjoyed a fruitful tie-up with the Irishman at Easter Road, admitted his interest in the striker yesterday. But, with a pack of up to eight English clubs also likely to be in pursuit, he acknowledged that he faces competition. ‘I wouldn’t rule out an interest in Anthony Stokes, but we wouldn’t be on our own,’ said Stubbs. ‘There will be a number of clubs interested in him, particularly if it’s a free transfer. The departure of Stokes continues a mini exodus from Parkhead under Brendan Rodgers as the new manager clears the decks for fresh arrivals. Carlton Cole, Colin Kazim-Richards and Stefan Scepovic are also on the way out. Meanwhile, Rodgers will make his Celtic managerial bow against Slovenian side Celje on June 30. The former Liverpool manager has decided to take his side to the central European country for a two-week training camp from June 27 until July 9. And Sportsmail can reveal his first assignment will be a run-out against the side which finished fifth in Slovenia last season. Rodgers will then take his team across the Austrian border to face Sturm Graz on Sunday, July 3. Graz finished fifth in the Austrian Bundesliga last season. Next up on Wednesday, July 6, is a clash with Olimpija Ljubljana, who won the Slovenian title for the first time in May. The pre-season trip wraps up on Saturday, July 9 with a trip to Maribor to face the most successful side in Slovenian league history. Celtic also have preseason games confirmed against Leicester City and Barcelona as well as a match with Inter Milan after the Premiership begins.

CELTIC last night cut their ties with Anthony Stokes after handing the striker a free transfer. Informed he had no future at Parkhead under previous boss Ronny Deila following a public fall-out between the pair, Stokes was sent to Hibernian on loan for the second half of the season. Now the SPFL champions have released him just weeks after he propelled the Edinburgh club to their first Scottish Cup triumph in 114 years with a man-of-thematch display. Celtic had an option to keep the Republic of Ireland international until next summer in the hope of raking in a £500,000 fee. After indicating that they