Lee Tomlin’s missed opportunity to join Celtic led to an extraordinary meltdown, as recounted by his former teammate Danny Swanson.
The attacking midfielder, then at Peterborough United, was reportedly distraught after a £2 million move to Celtic fell through due to disagreements over his valuation.
Managed by Neil Lennon at the time, Celtic were reportedly “desperate” to sign Tomlin.
The opportunity to play for the Glasgow giants, compete for silverware, and feature in the Champions League was irresistible for the Peterborough star.
However, the move was blocked by Peterborough’s owner, Darragh MacAnthony, who deemed Celtic’s bid below his valuation.
The rejection left Tomlin furious, sparking scenes of chaos in the dressing room and an on-pitch meltdown that Swanson described as “unbelievable.”
“With Tommo, Celtic were desperate for him,” said Swanson on Open Goal.
“And he was desperate to go.
“I said to him, ‘Mate, you’ve got to go.’
“He tried (but it didn’t happen).
“He smashed up the dressing room (when the move collapsed).
“He smashed the fridge!
“It was before a game, then he went out and played.
“Tommo would just say what was on his mind, so he said they’d turned down this bid from Celtic and then he played.
“Now when I say played, he walked about. Walked about, then got sent off. Straight red.”
The attacking midfielder was a fan favourite in the English Football Leagues, impressing at Peterborough and later at clubs like Middlesbrough and Cardiff City.
However, a move to Celtic could have been transformative. With opportunities to play in the Champions League and compete for Scottish titles, Tomlin’s career might have reached new heights had the transfer gone through.
It was clear that he wanted the move to Celtic to come to fruition, so it’s a shame it didn’t. It would have been interesting to see the player in the green and white hoops.
