If we had gotten Hartson in earlier, we’d have given ourselves a much better chance.
Should’ve, would’ve, could’ve……
He galvanised a club that were pretty flat at the time and looking for a saviour. Hartson fitted the mould.
In fairness, I think the club tried to get him in earlier, but there were fitness issues. Didn’t the club’s insurer refuse to cover him so we ended up with a “pay as you play” deal?
Hartson left under a little cloud though as well. Didn’t get the move he wanted (fully understanding why he wanted to move from a relegated club when his stock was high), then publicly committed to staying with us - even if Man U came in for him. A week later he was in the green hoops of Celtic.
Don’t blame him at all for the move, but the timing wasn’t great after his public declaration.
Almost every Celtic fan I’ve met has been a top guy, however I remember having a drunken argument with some chavvy ones in Mallorca that summer about Hartson!