Ex-Celtic star Leigh Griffiths a shock transfer target for Waterford in Ireland’s second tier
LEIGH GRIFFITHS has been offered a route back to football by ambitious Irish second tier side Waterford.
The former Celtic and Scotland striker is currently without a club since a stint at Australian outfit Mandurah City.
He was arrested three weeks ago by police investigating sports gambling before being released without charge.
And he's been offered a chance to return to football at Irish First Division side Waterford, who are set to appoint former Stoke City and Ipswich Town star Jon Walters as director of football.
Waterford are owned by Fleetwood Town chief Andy Pilley, who appointed former Celtic hero Scott Brown as manager in the summer.
They are desperate to return to the top flight after being relegated last season in a relegation play-off and see former Scotland star Griffiths as a marquee signing for the new season, which begins in February with an away trip to Wexford.
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The 32-year-old last played for Falkirk, before his spell Down Under and netted twice in 12 league games for the Bairns in their League One campaign last season.
He boasts an impressive career record of 180 league goals in 286 starts for Livingston, Dundee, Hibs, Wolves, Celtic and Falkirk.
Meanwhile, Joe Hart has defended Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou after he slammed his forwards after their Livingston win.
The Hoops goalie reckons the Parkhead gaffer is bang on to say it like it is.
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Hart said: “That’s what we see from him. He expects a lot from him and we expect a lot from ourselves.
“He’s certainly not going to walk in after a game, when we’ve not taken the chances to put the game out of sight and it’s turned into a difficult second half, and not say that.
“I think you guys appreciate that and we do too.
“He’s pretty clear with us and honest with his feelings. He lets us know.
“But it’s not a shock, it’s not a bolt. We know it’s coming.
"We know when we are playing well and when our flow is good.
“But he regularly points out to us that it’s all very well and good to get to a certain height. The higher you get, the harder it is to stay at that level.
“He wants the best for us. But there are different ways of getting that out of us and he can’t be nice all the time.”
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