Leigh Griffiths admits his career may be OVER. The former Celtic frontman could be forced to hang up his boots with calls drying up after more than five months without a club.
Griffiths had spells at Dundee and Falkirk last season – and a short stint with Australian part-timers Mandurah FC. The 32-year-old is currently training with former club Livingston but boss David Martindale revealed there are NO plans to offer him a deal.
Griffiths has been left in limbo and he admitted time is running out if he’s to avoid being forced to hang up his boots. The former Scotland star – who scored 123 goals in eight years with Celtic – said: “The longer it goes on I think, 'Is football for me any more?’ I've been without a club for five months now and, although Davie Martindale has said I can come in and train with them, he has said there is no deal on the table.
“I'm still not seeing managers pick up the phone, which means do they want me at their club or is it time to call it a day? That is something I'm still considering at the minute. As a free agent you've not got a budget, you've not got a price-tag on your head, everything is still negotiable.
“I've got an 11-year old son who keeps asking me when I'm going to be back playing football again, and it's a difficult one to answer. I just say I'm training as hard as I can and hopefully a club comes calling soon.”
Griffiths has a proven track record as a goal scorer – but his career has been dogged with controversy. He was involved in a bust up with Hoops boss Neil Lennon after coming out of lockdown out of shape in 2020, having taken nine months out under previous boss Brendan Rodgers due to personal issues.
Griffiths was sent home from Celtic’s pre-season camp in Wales by Ange Postecoglou after claims he was sending inappropriate messages on social media to two teenage girls.
Police Scotland later cleared Griffiths but the incident led to him being shipped out by Celts. Speaking to BBC Scotland’s Sportscene, he said: “I think that was probably the lowest point for me. I hold my hands up, I regret what I did.
"It went to the right people behind the scenes, from Celtic, the authorities, the law, and I have proved that there was no wrongdoing. But for me it is still a massive mistake and a massive regret.”
Griffiths has riled up rival fans over the years and he revealed he still can’t escape public abuse. The striker enjoyed his brief spell Down Under but admitted he is a constant target in Scotland.
Griffiths said: “It was the most peaceful three weeks I've had in football. Even yesterday, I got abuse when I was training at Livingston. People just standing at the top of the hill wanting to stand and abuse me.
"I can't do anything. I can't go out to the shops. That's the narrative, that's the stigma you have when you're playing with one side of the Old Firm. Don't get me wrong, there are plus sides as well. Celtic fans still come up to me and say they miss me, which is always nice to hear. There's always that flip of the coin.”
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