McFadden pondered Bhoys switch
by Joseph Caron Dawe, 21 January 2008
Birmingham new boy James McFadden has revealed that he was keen on a move to Celtic after he found out that the reigning SPL champions were interested in him.
However, the Scotland international believes that he has taken on a ‘bigger challenge’ at St Andrews and is relishing the task of helping Blues pull away from the relegation dogfight at the bottom of the Premier League table.
"Celtic tried to take me on loan before the transfer window opened and I was keen on it at the time but I didn't speak with Gordon Strachan,” McFadden told the Daily Record.
“However, I'm delighted to come to Birmingham - it will work even better for my career. This is a bigger challenge.”
McFadden was the subject of a loan enquiry from The Bhoys but Everton manager David Moyes was unwilling to let the midfielder go out on a temporary deal.
Instead, the 24-year-old completed his move to the Midlands which sees him team up with former Scotland coach Alex McLeish in a deal which could eventually net The Toffees up to £6 million.
"I don't know what happened at the end,” he said. “Celtic never came in with a bid for me then Alex McLeish really showed he wanted me here and that was a big thing.
"I wasn't happy not playing at Everton and I did think about the option of going back to Scotland. However, I'm really delighted to be at Birmingham."