‘They wanted me’: Former Rangers star reveals Celtic contract offer before showdown at Ibrox

David Templeton, a winger, spent four years at Ibrox from 2012 to 2016.

David Templeton has revealed that Celtic made a late attempt to entice him to Parkhead moments before he held showdown talks with Rangers manager Ally McCoist in 2012.

The former Hearts, Gers, and Hamilton winger, who joined the Ibrox club from the Jambos, recalled preparing for a meeting with McCoist at Rangers’ Murray Park training facility when he received a last-minute call from their bitter opponents.
Templeton, now 35, has revealed how things could have turned out differently had Celtic officials made a last-ditch effort to persuade him to finish the remainder of his contract at Hearts before moving in the summer.

Instead, the former Scotland youth international joined Rangers in August. However, the transfer revelation shocked Open Goal host Si Ferry, who detailed how both himself and former Hearts teammate Ryan McGowan were wanted by the Govan outfit, but the latter turned them down in favour of pursuing a lucrative deal in China. Templeton explained: “They tried to sell me and Ryan McGowan to the Rangers. We were both at the training ground. Gowser must have known because six months later he went to China for approximately £20,000 per week. That’s why he went to see Coisty and told him he wasn’t signing.

“I’ve met the gaffer. He was good and funny. You’ve obviously spoken with him, and to be fair, he’s hilarious. I ran into him on the training grounds. I had Celtic call me while I was sitting outside. They wanted me to wait out my contract until the end of the season.

That prompted Ferry to inquire, “Had you already agreed with Ally McCoist?” Templeton responded, “I was outside.” I hadn’t even gone in and spoken with the gaffer yet!”

in other news Alonso blames transfers and retention for leaving Celtic.