By Scott Cooper
June 15 2005

LOYALTY in Football is rarely evident. Celtic's dealing of our new signing Jackie McNamara is a testament to this, as is our very own Henri Camara, but do Wolves show loyalty to their players?

The way in which Celtic dealt with McNamara has gone down like the proverbial lead balloon north of the border. The green and white army are furious with the way their board of directors dealt with a player the manager was desperate to keep.

Hoops Manager Gordon Strachan went on record several times prior to the recent events stating how he saw Jackie McNamara as a key player and an integral part of his plans. Just over a week later McNamara was stood at Molineux with a Wolves shirt in hand and a scarf around his neck. He had left Celtic Park.

This was the player who had given so much to the club he loved. Speak to a Celtic Fan and they will tell you he gave his all whenever he pulled on the famous green and white shirt.

His reward for ten years service? A testimonial game. And even then he had to take a pay cut in the season leading up to the game against the Republic Of Ireland.

McNamara wanted a two year deal at Celtic, he was offered just one. He wanted stability and when Wolves came knocking on the door, offering him a decent salary (more that the Scottish club could muster up) and a two year deal he gave the nod, passed the medical and signed on the dotted line.

Celtic of course panicked, offered McNamara a two year deal and a better salary, but the man who had given Celtic his all told them where to put their contract. It was too late. The man who had given so much had had enough.

But where does loyalty lie at Wolves? Step forward George Ndah, a prime example.

The striker signed from Swindon in 1999 and was ravaged by injury. In 2003 he made a return, scoring a handful of goals and leading Wolves comfortably into the play-offs.

However injury was again just around the corner. The forward played in the 2-1 win over Reading in the Play-Off Semi Final first leg in May 2003, but it was to be his last game. A thigh injury returned and his season was over. He missed out on the Play-Off Semi final second leg and the win over Sheffield United in Cardiff.

As if that wasn't bad enough the Striker missed the whole of the Premiership season and found himself out of contract. However Wolves showed loyalty in the player and offered him a single one year deal to prove his fitness.

His fitness failed to return and he again missed the whole of the 2004/05 campaign. His contract had expired and several clubs started sniffing around.

Unlike Celtic, Wolves knew what loyalty was about, they new Ndah could be a key player, despite not being fit for two years. The result? A new one year contract.

Loyalty does exist at Wolves and Celtics loss will be Hoddles gain.