Get signings spot-on and Celtic will make fans smile again

Ledley hopes Postecoglou can make right market moves to restore success

PART of Joe Ledley still wishes it could be him. A call comes through to sign for Celtic with a mission to restore success. Just like the old times.

‘Sadly, I think those days are done,’ smiled the 34-year-old midfielder, currently a free agent. ‘I enjoyed my time at Celtic, it was the best time of my life.

‘Everyone moves on. There’s hardly any players still there from my time. There’s only Callum McGregor and probably Jamesy Forrest who I can remember.

‘Time moves on and, hopefully, we can see this current Celtic team get back to where they were before.’

Some things don’t change, though. Recruitment will again be key this summer. As it was in Ledley’s spell at Parkhead.

A 25-point gap to Rangers in last season’s final Premiership table explains the scale of the task facing Ange Postecoglou (below), but the former Wales star doesn’t see it as mission impossible. Not if smart additions are made.

Back in 2010, Ledley was signed by Neil Lennon as part of a squad overhaul following Tony Mowbray’s short, ill-fated reign.

Celtic came within a point of the title in Ledley’s first campaign before he helped start the club’s nine-in-a-row era next time round.

‘Of course, Celtic can pull back that gap with the right signings,’ he insisted. ‘I wish the new manager the best and he’s got a track record of success wherever he’s been.

‘A team like Celtic, financially, will hopefully be able to strengthen sufficiently well enough. That’s what they need.

‘It’s a massive club and there’s always pressure to succeed. It was hard to watch Celtic struggle last season. You’re always going to be gutted for the players.

‘It’s never nice to see such a big gap. But, like I’ve said before, without fans in the stadium — especially somewhere like Celtic Park — it can affect the team. They really missed the supporters.

‘You’ve seen how without them performances drop dramatically. They are the 12th man.

‘The atmosphere at Celtic Park, there’s nothing like it in Europe. So I think that was a key factor why there wasn’t success.’

Ledley watched the Postecoglou era get up and running when he made the short trip from his Cardiff home to the Dragon Park training ground that is Celtic’s base for their pre-season camp in Wales. Sheffield Wednesday were defeated 3-1 in the club’s first summer friendly. ‘I do take hope from what’s happening,’ said Ledley. ‘I think a freshening up can be a good thing. ‘There’s a new manager and from what I saw there’s some good young talent looking to get into the first team. ‘It is very important they dedicate themselves to this club because it’s a great club to be at. ‘I thought the team played with a good tempo. It’s vital they get the season off to a good start.’ Ledley felt for Lennon as last term unravelled to end his second spell as Celtic manager on a sorry note. The 50-year-old stepped down in February, with the club already 18 points behind Rangers after a miserable campaign.

‘Neil’s a good friend and a good manager,’ continued Ledley. ‘My time up there was special and I regard him as being probably the best manager I worked with.

‘Circumstances were different last season and it didn’t work out for Celtic or Neil. But I’m sure he’ll bounce back, he’ll find another club. We all wish him well.

‘What he’s done at Celtic is unbelievable and people will always recognise that — especially those players he brought in, including me.

‘He gave many of us an opportunity to play for a club like Celtic and we should always be grateful for that.

‘Neil will definitely go down as one of the greatest managers I’ve played for.’

The identity of Ledley’s next manager remains uncertain. After leaving Celtic in 2014, he played for Crystal Palace, Derby County and Charlton before a short stint in Australia with Newcastle Jets. He then joined Newport County for the final couple of months of last season.

‘I’ve not got a club at the moment,’ he said. ‘I’m getting old, aren’t I?

‘You get to a certain age and people begin to think you’re past it. I’m hoping to carry on playing. Sometimes it’s difficult to say no.

‘You have to listen to your body and I feel good enough right now. But it also depends on what opportunities there are.

‘I’m back home now in Cardiff with my family and I’m settled. It’s why I signed for Newport down the road last season. I know the manager and the chairman. I’m 34 now. Football’s changing and that’s now seen as old. It’s difficult for players in my situation to find clubs.

‘But a lot of these teams now, especially in England, are looking at the academies at the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea to get these youth players. They are obviously technically very good, but I still think in football you need a lot of experience.’

While a Parkhead return is now beyond him, would Ledley rule out coming back to Scottish football with another club?

‘I can never rule out anything,’ he added. ‘Obviously, it’s got to be the right time, the right club — and I mean a club with ambition.

‘I’d like to be back up there playing at the likes of Celtic Park and Ibrox. There’s a fantastic culture up there and I enjoyed my time in Scotland.

‘The only thing would be the distance and being away from home. I’m settled back here with my family. I was away for over ten years playing in the Premier League and Championship and elsewhere. So it’s good for me to be back home. But you can’t be picky and you can’t rule anything out.’

There’s a new manager and some good young talent in the team