Mikey Johnston, an academy graduate, moved to West Bromwich Albion last week, and Celtic and him parted company permanently.
The 25-year-old made 20 appearances during his second half-season loan at the Baggies, where he scored nine goals and provided two assists.
Johnston quits Celtic to pursue new opportunities after realizing the aspirations of many. The Glasgow native made almost 100 appearances and contributed to a plethora of trophies making their way to Glasgow’s east end despite his frequent physical setbacks.
He must ultimately expand his horizons elsewhere, but the support will always cherish his talent and contribution.
As he gets about to go south of the border, Johnston has now sent the club an emotional farewell letter on Instagram.
Celtic’s goodbye letter from Mikey Johnston
After seven years in the senior ranks of his boyhood club, Johnston announced on social media that he will be “going back” to being a fan once again. He penned a lengthy farewell letter to Celtic in this post.
“It’s difficult to say goodbye,” he said. Being able to play for Celtic makes me feel incredibly lucky. I’ve realized my ambition; even a single minute of play would have been sufficient. I am grateful to all the members of the club who have supported me over the years, both as a player and as a person. I’m grateful to my fans for sticking by me both in good and terrible times. I’m excited to start a new chapter and become a Celtics fan once more. MJ, hail hail.”
Farewelling someone is difficult. Johnston has dedicated the most of his life to the team, and in a different reality, if he hadn’t been injured and inconsistent, he might have had a bigger influence.
Nonetheless, he will always have a lot of happy memories of his time spent at Celtic and his opportunity to play for the Bhoys during one of their most successful eras. Hopefully, he can maintain his current level of success at West Brom and pursue other professional endeavors. Mikey, good luck!
Today, Barry Ferguson provides his perspective on the game as part of the ongoing post-match analysis and pundit response to Celtic’s victory against Rangers.
The strange assessment of Graeme Souness over the size of the difference between Celtic and Rangers, as well as the disappointment Ally McCoist felt upon learning of the outcome, had already been reported to Celtic supporters this week.
Overall, it makes sense that the analysts who support Rangers are devastated this week. Former Ibrox player Barry Ferguson will be the next to weigh in on the Celtic loss.
Barry Ferguson was “hurt” by Celtics supporters.
More accurately, Ferguson was injured by the outcome, but he was also injured by what the Celtic supporters did to him when he was in the Parkhead director’s box during the 3-0 thrashing.
Ferguson stated, “I’m not going to lie,” in the Daily Record. It hurts, this one.
Perhaps it was because I was seated in the directors’ box at Parkhead, witnessing it firsthand.
Maybe it was the happiness on the cheeks of the Celtic supporters when they were smiling in my face and doing their little huddle dance when their side was ahead 3-0.
“Let’s just say that it was interesting.”
Ferguson continued, saying that the Ibrox club did not “lose the proper way” against Celtic and that his own team’s performance was primarily to blame for the “hurt and disappointment,” but it is obvious that he was deeply irritated by what the fans did.
Chris Sutton, a former Celtics hero, was also aware of it.
Sutton mocks Ferguson over remarks made by a Celtics supporter
Sutton is well-aware of what it’s like to face criticism from rival supporters. Rangers supporters continue to make fun of the former Celtic striker even when he is a pundit for Sky Sports.
Sutton also mocked the former Rangers captain on social media in response to Ferguson’s column: