James Forrest has lifted the lid on how his latest Celtic contract extension came together, revealing discussions with Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney had been ongoing for months before the deal was finalised.
The winger has committed to another year at the club, extending a career that has already spanned well over a decade in the first team. While the announcement came this week, Forrest made it clear the groundwork had been in place long before.
Talks began back in January, but the focus inside the club remained firmly on results. With Celtic pushing towards a cup final and staying in the title race, Forrest said there was no rush to push the deal over the line.
He said: (Celtic TV), “I’m absolutely delighted. I spoke to the manager and Shaun from January, but I think the main thing is that everyone’s focus has been on the club, getting into the cup final and, obviously, the league, and focusing on that.
“Obviously, I’ve been here a long time, so I knew I wanted to keep playing. It was always going to just come down to the club, so I’m delighted to have it.
“Obviously, I agreed to stay here for another year and hopefully I can just keep helping the team and keep contributing and keep fighting for trophies.”
That approach carried through the rest of the season. Forrest explained there was little need for repeated discussions, with both sides already clear on where things stood.
He added: “To be honest, it was near enough already done. I think the manager and Shaun did speak in January and they said towards the end of the season it will get done. We didn’t really need to speak about it again.
“I think I’ve been here a long time. I’ve said I don’t want to go anywhere else. So they kind of knew where I was at with that as well.
“But obviously, I think after the cup semi, it was like, can I feel good and stuff like that. But it was already going to happen anyway. But obviously, it’s a good week to get it done.”
Forrest admitted that support meant a lot, especially given the experience O’Neill and Maloney bring to the dressing room.
He said: “It’s great to hear. I think, obviously, he’s had two spells here this season and I’d never met him before. So it’s obviously great. I’ve worked under so many great managers.
“You see so many ex-players and you meet them throughout my time here as well. I’ve never come across him, but I think it’s great for me. And then other boys who have worked with him say he’s got so much experience.
“So I think everyone in the changing room, definitely the fans and that, everyone wants that. Hopefully, we can give the manager a good end to the season.”
Despite his long service, Forrest was keen to stress the extension is based on what he can still offer on the pitch rather than past achievements.
He finished: “Aye, to be fair. To be honest, it was, as I said, it’s probably easy for the club. They asked if I wanted to keep playing another year and I feel as though I’ve contributed at times this season.
“And they obviously see they’ve signed players in my position last summer and January as well. And I feel as though I’m still competitive, I try to play as well. So it’s definitely no sentimental one.
“I feel as though I’m still contributing, still training hard and still working to help the team. But no, in my terms, it was never about what I got anywhere else.
“It would have been a decision what to do if the club didn’t, but it was great to get it done.”
Forrest’s extension keeps a key squad option in place heading into the final weeks of the season, with the winger still playing a role in tight games where experience and movement can make the difference.
With five league games and a cup final still to come, his role may yet prove decisive again. Celtic have leaned on his experience in key moments before, and with the deal now sorted, the focus is fully on what he can still deliver on the pitch.
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