Celtic’s season has come to a crushing conclusion in recent weeks.
As the Bhoys sit without a permanent manager in the Parkhead dugout, things have gone from bad to worse for the club and its supporters. They have surrendered their grasp on the league title and were knocked out of the cup at the expense of their biggest rivals.
If things couldn’t get any worse, Celtic were then hammered 4-1 by Rangers last weekend. It was another abject defensive display, but fortunately those at Paradise have been handed a little pick-me-up at the end of the week.
That’s because Shane Duffy has now quit Celtic and headed back to Brighton.
The Irishman hasn’t played since February 14 but has now picked up an injury which will rule him out of John Kennedy’s squad for the final two games against St Johnstone and Hibernian. That means he has now cut short his stay in Glasgow and gone back to his parent club on the south coast of England.
This will represent a considerable boost for a number of reasons. First and foremost, it ends the possibility of the defender returning next season, and secondly it will improve their wage bill.
[snack-amp-story url= "https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/celtic-manager-transfers-eddie-howe-jesse-marsch-ryan-christie-siriki-dembele" title="Read the latest Celtic managerial updates, transfer news, rumours and gossip!"]
Duffy signed on loan from the Seagulls in a deal thought to be worth £2m in transfer fees. Rather ridiculously, Celtic paid the player £30,000 per week during his stay at Paradise.
The Republic of Ireland international became their highest earner but he didn’t live up to expectations at all. The 29-year-old played just 18 times in the Premiership and was made to bemoan a succession of horrendous mistakes.
He was incredibly shaky during the 3-3 draw at Aberdeen in October, while he was fortunate not to be sent off against Rangers in January.
Words from financial guru Kieran Maguire expertly sum up the Irishman's stay in Glasgow. The Football Insider columnist said: "He thought he’d walk it but turned out to be a walking disaster."
That Duffy has now left the club should come as no loss. He has been miserable defensively and it will come as a considerable boost to finally take him off the wage bill.
He has cost Celtic a fortune - money which Dominic McKay can hopefully now put towards a new manager and their backroom team. He should be relieved to see the centre-back walk away from Parkhead.