Celtic weigh up Robbo move

Thursday 31st July 2008, 2:40PM BST.

robbo2.jpgScottish giants Celtic are weighing up a bid for Albion defender Paul Robinson as his contract wrangle with the Baggies goes on.

The Old Firm club have put Robinson on a list of candidates to replace wantaway former Wolves full-back Lee Naylor.

Bhoys boss Gordon Strachan could hit Albion with a bid in the coming days, as the Baggies’ contract talks drag on with the 29-year-old defender.

Robinson is about to begin the final year of his deal at The Hawthorns and has so far been unable to agree an extended deal, potentially making him a free agent next summer.

Celtic are hoping that could open the door for a switch to Scotland.

Former Wolves man Naylor is desperate to return to England to be closer to his family in Walsall and Strachan sees Robinson as a potential replacement, with youngster Mark Wilson still blighted by injuries.

Scottish media sources have quoted a ‘source close to Robinson’ as saying: “Paul is really flattered by Celtic’s interest and if a deal can be reached between the teams, then he would love to move to Glasgow.

“He was excited about playing in the Premier League this season but hasn’t been offered a new contract. That has been on his mind.

“It is up to the two teams to agree a fee first, before he makes a decision.”

The Robinson camp have been in discussions with Albion over a new deal for the player since the end of last season.

So far no formal offer as been made over an extension, with Robinson thought to be unhappy with the terms discussed.

Celtic hope the delay in agreeing a fresh deal will make Albion open to offers for the popular defender.

The Baggies will want to avoid a repeat of this summer, when they lost Zoltan Gera, Kevin Phillips and Martin Albrechtsen for free.


  1. 1
    TonyWBA

    I’d like Robbo to stay, but got this feeling he will be off this time.
    Will always remember that goal at the Vile.

    Report abuse

  2. 2
    smethwick baggie

    Not this old chestnut again. Didn’t we go through all this with this player at the end of last season ? Make your mind up Robinson, either stay or go for pitys sake

    Report abuse

  3. 3
    TopFlightBaggies

    Robbo’s first touch will be perfectly suited to the undemanding rigours of the SPL…so “c’est la vie”

    Report abuse

  4. 4
    Shrew

    Are players ever happy with their contracts, if he stays great a useful squad player if he goes Clement is more than capable of being the reserve under Cech

    Report abuse

  5. 5
    Not even top 6!!

    I’d hate him to leave but has he come to the end of the road with us???
    Fair play if he did go to celtic though, chamoions l footy!!!

    Good luck if you do and if you don’t look forward to seeing you soon…

    Report abuse

  6. 6
    Army Baggie

    Yet another player who will leave because we cant negotiate a contract, give him wot he wants for gods sake!!!!!!!!

    Report abuse

  7. 7
    Not even top 6!!

    2. Has robbo said anything??? As far as he’s concerned at the moment he is a baggie boy and we all know while that’s the case he’ll give 100 %

    Report abuse

  8. 8
    Albion Fan 16

    If he goes 2 Celtic he will never be used!

    ps Happy Baggie – thanks 4 wishing me a happy birthday!

    Report abuse

  9. 9
    The Golden Babies

    I think you’ll be better off without him, youve brought a better left back with Cech and lets face it, he’s not up to the Prem and he’s a liability.
    We’ve got Thatcher on trial, i hope to god we dont sign him, he makes Robinson look like Bamby.

    Report abuse

  10. 10
    Terry Wills.

    Frankly the state of the game today, obscene wage demands, long drawn out transfer speculation, obnoxous agents, not counting a manager in Kevin Keegan who amazingly decides to give Joey Barton a ‘second’ chance (what DOES it take to punish an individual who is a disgrace to society let alone football) increaingly leads me to wishing i had the courage to stop watching the game.

    But then like every other ‘barmy’ fan it’s too late. I’ll simply have to seeth inwardly and carry on damning the individuals who have turned th ‘beautiful’ game into what it is at present.

    To Robbo’ if you want to leave the Hawthorns please make it sooner rather than later because frankly this continuing ‘soap opera’ leaves supporters feeling ‘brassed off’ for want of a better word.

    But then do we really know Celtic are weighing up a move for him, or is it simply a lazy peice of journalism from a reporter who feels he needs to provoke a reaction. One way or the other?

    Report abuse

  11. 11
    The Hoff

    Not good enough for the Prem IMO but an ideal player for the CCC. Wouldn’t blame him if he went to Celtic & would be OK apart from in the big Champions League games when he would be found out.

    Report abuse

  12. 12
    Baggietastic

    He clearly wants to go, the club clearly don’t rate him highly enough to offer a good contract, he’s not prem class, so let him go. Villa goal yes, but the thing I’m now most greatfull to him for is giving the ball away for the Derby goal in the play off cos I really enjoyed last season and am really looking forawrd to this one. Bye Bye Robbo.

    Report abuse

  13. 13
    Astle is the King

    See you Robbo, thanks for your contribution over they years, this time I think it’s best for you to move on.

    There’s only one Paul Robinson!

    Report abuse

  14. 14
    Nedball

    Here we go again!!
    Robbo’s a great character in the dressing room and having met him a few times, a really nice bloke too!!
    He wants to win, he gives everything every time he plays and he’s been brilliant for us. I for one, do not want him to go, and would love to see him at the Shrine for a further 2 / 3 years.
    He does make mistakes, gives away stupid free kicks and gets sent off too often. But, he creates goals, he gets us out of trouble, he’s willing to put his body on the line and he’s too good a player to be wasted in the SPL! He was my man of the match against the Dingles away last season and would we ever have another character who’d be kissing refs at the final whistle? Always applaudes the fans, and always last one of the pitch (unless sent off).
    He deserves a lot more praise than he gets from us!

    Report abuse

  15. 15
    Jacko

    Brave tactics these, the team that starts the new season will be very different to the one that finished last season. Usually takes time for a new side to gell and the premiership is a challenging place to achieve that, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be negative, remember how Man City started last season with anew team.

    Report abuse

  16. 16
    Albion Fan 16

    On the Louis Saha rumour he isn’t really what he used to be when he was playing for Fulham and he is quite injury prone :( still a very good player tho! 2 questions remane

    1) Will Man U sell him?
    2) Are we good enough to attract him to plying his trade at The Hawthorns?

    Boing Boing!

    Report abuse

  17. 17
    Celtic Baggie!

    cmon robbo sign a new deal the baggies need you more than the hoops do we will win the spl with out you robbo but as for the baggies i cant see us staying up without you.
    You might think i cant lose as both a celtic and baggies supporter but celtic are a much bigger club so i jus prey albion can keep hold of our players from the hoops althoug i can see tm moving to parkhead in the coming years.

    Report abuse

  18. 18
    The Real Bully.

    9 GB.
    Agree with you about Thatcher, on your own site someone called Grace said ‘we need someone a bit nasty’ calling him a bit nasty is like saying Ronaldo likes the odd stepover. You’re probably right that Robbo would be a liability in the Prem with his tackling but I can’t help loving the bloke. He’s from the Stuart Pearce mould, not saying he’s as good but he takes stick unflinchinglt as well as dishing it out and will run til he drops. Don’t expect Wolves fans to like him, for obvious reasons.
    6 Army.
    While Chelsea can do this we can’t. Remember Leeds.
    10 Terry.
    Good point, could also be wishful thinking/hiking the price up, from his agent.
    8 Albion fan 16.
    Belated salutations on your coming of age.

    Report abuse

  19. 19
    wicklowbhoy

    while im sure robinson is a decent enough sort . he is not good enough for celtic and i cant imagine the hoops fans being too happy if he joins .cos he is no better than what is at the club at the moment and its improvement in this position we need not status quo .

    Report abuse

  20. 20
    De baggie

    Robbo has always given 100% for the baggies I HOPE HE STAYS.but which ever way it goes look out for yourself, every body else did Good luck Robbo you always give your best

    Report abuse

  21. 21
    quinton baggie

    No player is bigger than the club. If Robbo wants to go and I have not heard it then let him go. Yes the Villa goal was a peach and yes he was hard, but did not seem the same after he was polaxed by Rooney a few seasons ago. We do have cover in Cech and Clem. But the Champs league my be the draw for him?

    Report abuse

  22. 22
    NorthBank BarmyArmy

    yup they have robbo an we can have the mighty Lee naylor back!!

    BarmyArmy

    Report abuse

  23. 23
    madgarry

    If he goes he goes and good luck to him,ime not sure if he would cut it in the prem as his style of play would see him pick up plenty of cards,but he would be a decent squad player.Ide like him to stay,but the lure of champions league football is a big incentive for him to opt for Celtic,lets hope its a decent offer they make for him….

    Report abuse

  24. 24
    baggies boy

    robbo plz dont go we need u mn 2 keep the bk 4 strong if go we wont have no fun see u brake ronldo com on robbo stay robbo robbo??????

    Report abuse

  25. 25
    The Real Bully.

    19. Wicklow boy.
    Got to agree with you. Francis Rossi is a bit long in the tooth. Even by SPL standards

    Report abuse

  26. 26
    Not even top 6!!

    22. Yeah lets hope you do get lee naylor back!!! ha

    Report abuse

  27. 27
    wba dan

    You lot really are gullable who says rangers are even interested. A coupe of stories down its saying robbo wannts a NEW contract. Robbo is my favourite player and he is the only player in the entire team apart from koren that gives there all for the CLUB all you wanting him to go are a JOKE!

    Report abuse

  28. 28
    wicklowbhoy

    25 the real bully
    well francis rossi is probably a better player than him anyway .and i will agree spl is not the best of leagues but then again we are a top 16 team in champions league .and that is miles away from the championship in england

    Report abuse

  29. 29
    Loyal-Cannock-Wolf

    Robinson is an overweight oaf and wouldnt last 5 mins against a Champions league side.

    LOL got pipped again by another SPL side eh.

    Perhaps you should bid for Meite, he’s obviously world class…West Brum come on down!

    Report abuse

  30. 30
    Loyal-Cannock-Wolf

    26. He’s got a lot more quality than the fat slim shady…

    He can actually run more than 5 yards before taking a break, and his crossing is much better.

    Report abuse

  31. 31
    Wbaforever

    LCW

    It is patently obvious you fervently dislike Robinson.
    This dislike is preventing an honest assessment of him however.

    1) Robinson is highly regarded, not just by baggie fans.

    2) He was, last term responsible for more “assists” than any other player in our team.

    3) He aint fat!!!

    4) He was not responsible for the bout of flu
    Michael Kightly had last week.

    5) He was not responsible for the injury Kightly suffered last season, even though rather bizarrely you claim he was.

    Report abuse

  32. 32
    Albion Till I Die

    Robbo leave?
    i dont think so, another SPL team, it calls them Giants? Celtic wouldnt even make top 6 in the prem, they are NO giants jus everyone accept from the and Gers are small clubs, and same again, SPL OR PREM, PREM please ROBBO!

    Report abuse

  33. 33
    wicklowbhoy

    32 albion til i die
    celtic are giants you obviously know very little about football . while yes we play in a poor league . we would not take long to be top 6 with the tv money sky gives . the only club in the uk that comes close to celtic fanbase wide is manutd and let me tell you the baggies will never be a big club even if you do manage to stay in the prem for a few seasons which is highly unlikely .

    Report abuse

  34. 34
    Albion Till I Die

    wicklowbhoy

    i know little about football, thats a joke, Celtic giants, put them in the prem then and see how much of a giant team they are

    Report abuse

  35. 35
    Celtic Baggie!

    32. You obviously no nothing about football if you think celtic are not a giant club. yes they play in a poor league but it still has to be won which is what they are doing this season for the 4th time running.Get your facts right before you slate other clubs.

    Report abuse



Free e-Supplements

Business Awards

Book a Business Awards table Book a Business Awards table

Join our celebrations of the region's best in business on Thursday March 22 - book your table now

Lifestyle

Interactive Dining Out map Interactive Dining Out map

Hundreds of reviews by the Express & Star and Shropshire Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.

entertainment

All the film reviews All the film reviews

Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases

OUR NEW APP

Get the new E&S app Get the new E&S app

Download the Express & Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.