Upon the expiry of his contract at Celtic, Josh Clarke has U-turned on a move to Partick Thistle.
Thistle finished runners-up in this season’s Scottish Championship, with 21-year-old Clarke impressing as first-choice goalkeeper.
On loan from Parkhead along with Ben McPherson, Clarke reportedly agreed a pre-contract to remain at Firhill in February, but this has now been thrown into serious doubt.
That’s after it emerged that Doncaster Rovers have stepped in for the goalkeeper, and the deal appears to have been hijacked.
📝 The Ox extends!
Have Celtic made the right call?
Josh Clarke expected to cancel Partick Thistle move in order to join Doncaster Rovers
According to the Daily Record, Rovers boss Grant McCann has made his move for Clarke, who is now set to pull the plug on his move to Firhill.
The League One club now appear to be his next destination.
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Clarke has recently been integrated into the senior Northern Ireland squad, being named on the bench for their friendlies against Guinea and France.
McPherson, on the other hand, will definitely be at Thistle next season. Mark Wilson has waxed lyrical about the full-back since his form in Maryhill.
Speaking in March, Wilson accused the Scotland National Team of favouritism when they omitted McPherson from their squad.
He said: James Cairney: “We had a wee laugh about it in the squad meeting just before we went onto the training pitch, just a wee joke with [Ben Stanway] and Ts’oanelo [Letsosa].
“But Ben McPherson, you’re right. It’s often harder to get out of the squad. When you’ve been in every squad, and then you’re playing better and more consistent, and you get papped out… I don’t think l’ve ever seen that before.
Does Anthony Ralston deserve a new contract at Celtic?
“So if I was Ben, I’d be disappointed, but you’ve got to make light of it and point out how ludicrous it is to then quickly move on. So, I just don’t know, it’s just weird.
“You know, he’s in every squad when he’s officially a Celtic player. As soon as he puts pen to paper and becomes a Partick Thistle player, yet playing better, he finds himself out of the squad.
“I don’t know what’s going on there, it’s madness. But that’s not our decision. I thought maybe they were looking at a younger squad coming in and maybe trying to refresh it and give others a chance…
“But there’s still boys in there who are 21 and can’t play next year. Consistently that would be the case. I don’t know.
“It’s a shame for these guys. Young players, they want to feel like they’re going the right way. For Ben to take a step back to maybe go two steps forward takes a lot from a player.
“I think it tells you a lot about their character. Maybe others can’t see the bigger picture in that.”
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