David Turnbull has been urged to make his own mind up over a move to Celtic rather than leave it to the money men who might made him more cash but could cost him in his career.
Joe Miller knows what he would do – because he was in exactly the same position 30 years ago.
The former winger became the most expensive teenager in Scottish football history when he made his £650,000 switch from Aberdeen in November 1987.
Miller was just 19 at the time – the same age as Motherwell ace Turnbull – and also had big clubs in England on his trail at the time.
But unlike the Well youngster, wide man Miller didn’t have an agent to front up the deal as he sat down with boss Billy McNeill to thrash out his own terms.
The kid struck a hard bargain and he understands why Turnbull’s camp would do the same.
But Miller was as stunned as the Hoops supporters when he learned the midfielder had knocked back a contract worth more than 10 grand a week at Parkhead.
The deal remains on the table but Celts won’t budge and the lad is now being touted down south, with Brighton, Sheffield Wednesday, Bristol and Barnsley forming a queue.
Miller reckons there’s nothing wrong with driving a hard bargain but he’s convinced Celtic would be the best move for Turnbull at this stage of his career.
Miller said: “I couldn’t believe it when I saw he knocked back Celtic. His agent might have got a bit carried away with himself. He’s a good player but the boy still needs to develop.
“The figures being talked about are huge but that’s the way the game is these days. If he continues to develop then the money will come to him. Celtic wouldn’t sit still, there would be more contracts down the line or even a big move to the Premier League.
“If he goes down south just now to maybe the Championship, there’s a chance he could get swallowed up. There are not many 19-year-olds who go straight into the EPL.
“At Celtic he would be part of a squad with a winning mentality and experienced players around him who would help him reach his potential.
“The boy has to be big enough to make the decision for himself. It’s his career and if he’s desperate to sign for Celtic, then do it.”
The Turnbull saga has brought back old memories for Miller and he admitted he didn’t need an agent back then – as he was as cocky as any negotiator.
He said: “I had to go in to talks with Big Billy in person. I knew what I would have got at Liverpool or Man United and it was about getting the same money at Celtic.
“Luckily I was a gobby wee s***e. I was like most agents so I could handle it myself. The difference was I knew where I wanted to play and didn’t have anyone talking in my ear. At 19 I felt I’d be best off staying in Scotland to continue my development.”
Miller is hoping Turnbull has a change in heart and joins up with Neil Lennon’s revolution at Parkhead.
The non-international Hoops players will report at Lennoxtown today with the rest to follow by the end of the week.
Celtic have yet to bolster their ranks but Miller is convinced Lennon will quickly put his own stamp on the group with Champions League qualifiers just three weeks away.
He said: “It’s an important pre-season for Neil. I’d imagine he will have cast his net far and wide. We have to be honest, the football in the last 18 months hasn’t been great.
“People haven’t given Lenny a chance but he got Celtic over the line. Who’s to say Brendan Rodgers would have managed to do that? There were signs teams had figured out how to play against them. There were no guarantees.
“Neil will be keen to bring in his own players and put his own stamp on things. There were signs of it last season, he mixed it up in the Scottish Cup semi-final against Aberdeen and when they won the league at Pittodrie. I think we will see a different kind of Celtic side.”
Celts might be new-look but Miller hopes to see an old face back with Leigh Griffiths expected to resume full training after seven months out battling personal problems.
He said: “In recent years, he’s been the man who’s got Celtic off to a flying start with crucial goals in qualifiers. If fit and feeling healthy then he’s worth his weight in gold.”
