Upon joining Celtic on a season-long loan deal in September of 2020, hopes for Shane Duffy were extremely high amongst those at Parkhead.
Indeed, shortly following the centre-back’s arrival in Glasgow, Neil Lennon said of the Brighton & Hove Albion defender:
“We are delighted to bring a player of Shane’s quality to Celtic. He is an international player with so many great attributes. He is a leader and he’s a warrior – someone with real ability and who will also give us that great physical presence.
“I know too he is a player who will add great personality to the dressing room. This is a real coup for the club. From the off, Shane wanted to come to Celtic and we are delighted we have been able to fend off English Premier League interest.
“We are delighted with Shane’s decision to come and I am delighted with the business which Nick Hammond and the board have done, not only in bringing Shane to Celtic but throughout the window. We can’t wait to get Shane involved in the squad as we look to the many challenges ahead.”
However, despite these early expectations, the 30-year-old went on to endure something of a torrid time at Celtic Park, starting just 15 Premiership fixtures for the Hoops, before losing his place in the starting XI to 22-year-old academy graduate Stephen Welsh in February.
As a result of his disastrous performances and costly mistakes in the Bhoys backline, the £4.5m-rated Republic of Ireland international came in for a great deal of criticism during his stay in Scotland, none more so than from Kris Commons, who stated of the 30-year-old:
“Duffy just looks like an accident waiting to happen. A bomb scare – and that’s a criticism which used to be levelled at my old teammate Efe Ambrose. But I tell you what, on current form, I’d take Efe over Duffy all day long.
“He’s been rank rotten from the minute he walked through the door. He needs to get himself up to speed and sharpish. With so much riding on this season, Celtic can’t afford to be carrying any passengers.”
However, with Celtic going on to concede their Premiership crown to their most bitter of rivals that season – by a considerable 25 point margin – Duffy’s place in the Hoops’ hall of shame was confirmed.
And, when taking into account the fact that Celtic were believed to be paying the centre-back’s £43k-per-week wages in full over his 36-week spell in Glasgow, in addition to coughing up a £2m loan fee – totalling a £3.5m outlay on the 30-year-old – it is clear for all to see that Duffy rinsed Peter Lawwell for a considerable amount of money.
AND in other news: Report confirms worrying Celtic development, Postecoglou will be gutted
