Lack of Trust with Mowbray Led to Celtic Exit
Scott McDonald has opened up about his shock departure from Celtic in January 2010, revealing that a lack of trust with manager Tony Mowbray was the primary reason. The Australian striker, who scored 63 goals in two-and-a-half years at Parkhead, felt he was not getting the confidence he needed from the manager. Despite never having a major fallout, McDonald sensed that Mowbray wanted to go in a different direction, especially after the signing of Marc-Antoine Fortune.
McDonald explained: "It culminated just in terms of the relationship with the lack of trust, probably within the manager and me at the time... It was also frustration with not having the trust of the manager at the time, and we signed Marc-Antoine Fortune, and it was always the manager's idea that he wanted to play him more."
Final Game Against Rangers Sealed Fate
McDonald's final appearance for Celtic came in a New Year's fixture against Rangers, where he came off the bench to salvage a draw. He did not know it would be his last game for the club. A hernia injury sustained during that match sidelined him, but the decision was already made. "It was kind of put to me after that that Tony didn't want me at the club from others externally working their ways," McDonald said.
This triggered a chain of events leading to his transfer to Middlesbrough, where he reunited with former Celtic boss Gordon Strachan. McDonald joined a group of Celtic players moving to the Riverside, including Stephen McManus, Barry Robson, Willo Flood, and Chris Killen.
Reunion with Strachan at Middlesbrough
McDonald admitted that the chance to work with Gordon Strachan again was the decisive factor in his move to Middlesbrough. "I just trusted the process of the manager, that was it. Gordon at that time was very important to my career and influenced it very heavily, so I trusted Gordon with everything," he said. The financial package also played a role, but McDonald emphasized that he would not have joined Middlesbrough without Strachan.
At Middlesbrough, McDonald became top scorer for two out of three seasons, but the team failed to achieve promotion. He looks back fondly on his time there, noting the strong support from fans and the club's owner Steve Gibson.
Reflections on Celtic Career and Regrets
McDonald described his time at Celtic as "living six or seven years in two and a half," citing memorable Champions League nights and league titles. Winning the league was the highlight, especially the season after Tommy Burns' passing. He admitted that leaving Celtic was difficult, as the pressure and expectation were like a drug. "When you leave that behind, it is like a drug, there's no question," he said.
Looking back, McDonald acknowledged that he could have achieved more, possibly reaching 100 goals and winning more trophies under Neil Lennon. However, he accepts his choices and has no regrets: "It's all hindsight, so it is what it is."
Reconciliation with Mowbray and Future Ambitions
When Tony Mowbray later became manager of Middlesbrough, McDonald was initially surprised but eventually found peace. He believes both could have handled things better but left with mutual respect. "I think by the end we could shake hands and go, 'Yeah, okay, you're a good coach. Well, you're a good player.' And that was that," McDonald said.
After leaving Middlesbrough, McDonald moved to Millwall and later into management with Gold Coast Knights in Australia. He recently obtained his UEFA Pro Licence and is looking for new challenges, possibly in Scotland. "Never say never. Depends if I can get used to the cold again!" he joked.
