Greg Taylor reveals Celtic truth behind transfer exit and his biggest regret

The former Hoops star swapped Parkhead for PAOK in the summer after six trophy-laden years in Glasgow

Greg Taylor admits he would have stayed at Celtic – had he been offered a level playing field with Kieran Tierney.

The Scotland international called time on his trophy-laden six years at Parkhead in the summer by upping sticks for Greek side PAOK. Taylor rejected a new contract to extend his Hoops stay despite multiple attempts by Brendan Rodgers to convince him to stick with the Scottish champions.

The defender had been Celtic’s first-choice left-back since his bargain £2million move from Kilmarnock in 2019. But after the man he replaced – Tierney – agreed an emotional return to his boyhood club from Arsenal, Taylor knew he was set to fall down the pecking order.

And at the age of 28, Taylor eventually decided it was best to move on for a different challenge in search of regular first-team football.

Opening up on his emotional decision, Taylor told Open Goal: “I just think it was probably the time for everyone. I’d had an amazing six years there, it was probably looking likely that Kieran was coming back.

“I was at the age I wanted to play regularly, that was probably the main reason for going. In the January, Zagreb were really keen for me to go there at that point but I was determined I wanted to stay and finish the season.

“We were doing well in the Champions League and had the chance of the Treble.

“I was really determined that no matter what, I wasn’t completely ruling out staying at Celtic, but I definitely wanted to finish the season.

“The season finished, we lost the cup final. After doing so well for so long, that was sad, and probably not getting the chance to say goodbye properly because you didn’t know 100 per cent you were going.

“I had a bit of interest here, there and everywhere, but I hadn’t decided what I wanted to do.”

In an honest admission, Taylor confessed he would’ve pledged his future to Celtic – on one condition.

He admitted: “If I knew I was going to be the guy who was playing all the games… the way it had been pretty much.

“I’m not saying I was shirking competition, because there had been five or six left-backs that came to Celtic when I had been there. So it wasn’t that.

“But I had the feeling that probably wasn’t going to be the case as such – it wasn’t maybe a fair fight. It became clearer that it was going to have to be somewhere else.

“But even until I signed for PAOK, I still didn’t know completely. I phoned the manager, Brendan, a couple of days before it and at that point he said he hoped that I was calling to say I was coming back.”

Now in a title fight with AEK Athens and Olympiacos, the PAOK star revealed he still keeps tabs on results back home.

He said: “I still watch all the Celtic games. Benjamin Nygren with another goal? He’s flying. I think Celtic will do it. It’s been a tight race.

“Celtic are six behind but have still to play Hearts once. I think over the piece, a very strong squad.

“But it’s going to be interesting. You’ve got to give Hearts credit for where they are now, it’ll be an exciting run-in, similar to us.”