Scotland star Jack Hendry has claimed it was an easy decision to sign for KV Oostende because Celtic couldn’t even tell him if he still had a future.
The classy defender spent last season on loan with the Belgian shock troops, won player of the season recognition, a Scotland recall and was part of Steve Clarke’s Euro 2020 squad.
It saw Hendry’s stock rise to more than the bargain basement £1million plus clause that KV were able to buy him for this summer, as part of their loan from Celtic.
If Hendry hadn’t agreed terms with Oostende then he could have gone back for the remaining year of his Celtic contract but nobody could give him answers because their move for Eddie Howe had collapsed and they were left in a state of managerial turmoil.
KV Oostende, on the other hand, pushed out all the stops for the 26-year-old to get him back in a cut-price deal.
Hendry confirmed: “I wanted to wait until the end of the season and KV were constantly pushing but there was very little communication from Celtic.
“For me, it was key to be at a club who really wanted me and Oostende went all out to get a deal done.
“That convinced me to sign there rather than going back to Celtic with one year on my contract and not knowing what the future was going to hold.
“Celtic had just missed out on Eddie Howe and there wasn’t great communication on what was going to happen going forward.
“It was difficult for me to go back to a club who didn’t have a manager and weren’t really communicating with me.
“The only feedback I got was when pre-season was restarting, there was very little else.”
New Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou could certainly have done with Hendry for the Champions League exit to Midjytlland. A lack of options in that area and Nir Bitton’s red card left him having to throw in kids.
Hendry also knew that KV was a place where he could continue to thrive. The former Wigan and Dundee defender has already been handed the captain’s armband on his KV return.
Hendry, who has penned a three year deal at KV, explained: “It was on-going throughout the season, they wanted me to sign on a permanent basis.
“They saw a lot of potential in me and in the deal they had agreed with Celtic at the start of the season. “So it was a no-brainer for me to go to KV because I know the club, the people, the team and I did well in Belgium last season.
“I am excited to build on what I did last season.
“I know how much KV values me and even going into the new season I have been the captain.”
Hendry has already attracted strong interest this summer and it has been claimed that KV could make a quick profit on his talents. He wants to play at the highest level but has insisted there is nothing pre-arranged or lined up.
Hendry stated: “I plan to do as well as I can for KV Oostende for as long as I am here. “It is no hidden secret that I want to play at the highest level possible. “Everything is transparent. “I will do the best I can for KV and hopefully it will be a win-win for both parties. “There has been interest in me already but it hasn’t been right. “I have to make the right step for my career, not one that is money-orientated. “It is critical for the next step in my career. “Everyone is on the same wavelength and we are working towards the same goal.”
Hendry left Celtic with a feeling of disappointment with the way his time ended but knows he is indebted to Brendan Rodgers for the education he got from him.
He signed him from Dundee and played him in some big games before he lost his place. Hendry was then sent out on loan to Melbourne City but that was wrecked by injury before he went to Belgium last summer.
He admitted: “I learned a lot from Brendan Rodgers, Kolo Toure and his team.
“They were brilliant for me.
“Brendan signed me from Dundee and playing under him was a great learning curve.
“My game and football intelligence really improved. “I didn’t get as many games as I would have liked at the end but I still learned so much under Brendan and his coaching staff.
“There are still some pointers and advice I still take with me in my career just now.
“I really appreciate the opportunity Brendan gave me. “It maybe didn’t work out the way I wanted but sometimes that is football.
“I am still a better player for working under and playing under Brendan.”
