I turned down the chance to join my beloved Celtic without even knowing but here is why I don't regret it

Pat Nevin has revealed he came close to joining Celtic on three occasions during his career - and that once turned down the Hoops without even knowing it.

After two breakthrough years with Clyde, the former winger won a big move down south to Chelsea in 1983, where he spent five years before making a switch to Everton, helping the club reach the FA Cup Final in 1989 in his four seasons at Goodison Park. Nevin - who scored five goals in 28 caps for Scotland and appeared at the European Championships in 1992 - then turned out for nearby Tranmere Rovers between 1992 and 1997, before returning to Scotland where he finished his career with Kilmarnock and Motherwell.

But despite never pulling on the colours of his boyhood team, Nevin says he does not regret what happened, and says it has allowed him to live a 'normal' life in his country of birth. Speaking to MyBettingSites, he said: "Celtic came in for me three times, when I was at Chelsea and Everton, but I was under a contract. I couldn’t leave unless the club sold me.

"I didn’t really have an option. Back then the club had the control and I felt being on a contract was like a promise. Even if Barcelona wanted me, I would have said that I was under a contract.

"The last time Celtic came for me, it was a bit sad. I played at Tranmere, and I was told by Bolton Wanderers, who were in the Premier League, that they wanted to buy me. I told them to go through the proper channels.

"The manager told me a week later that a club wanted me. I knew it was Bolton, so I said no. I wanted to stay. He asked me later if I wanted to know who the club was, and I said 'Oh yes who is it?' It was Celtic… And I had turned down the club that I loved without knowing.

"I don’t regret it today, I am