David Turnbull Lifts Lid On “Weird” Celtic Exit and Reveals “Deciding factor” in Cardiff Move

Few Celtic supporters were disappointed to see the back of midfielder David Turnbull when he moved to Cardiff City in January.

As the transfer window Petered out, an exit for the Scotland international seemed likely and the Welsh side coughed up 2.3 million euros (Transfermarkt) for his services.

Securing such a fee for a player whose contract was due to expire in six months was effective business for Celtic.

Turnbull wasn’t a consistent starter and while he scored seven goals for the Hoops in the first half of the campaign, there were several players ahead of him in the pecking order.

A move away was best for all parties, but the 24-year-old has admitted leaving the club felt strange because he didn’t get to say his final farewells.

He said: [MailSport via RecordSport] “I just felt the time was right for me to move on. But it was weird leaving the training ground. The Cardiff deal went through late on and my last session was two days before.

“I thought I was going in the following day. I’d said to the boys: ‘I’ll see you tomorrow.’ But things move so quickly in football.

“I had to nip back to Lennoxtown that same day to get my boots. That was a strange feeling for me. No one was there, except the kitman and a few people working.

“So it was weird leaving everything at the drop of a hat.”

Football is a fast-moving Business and although Turnbull didn’t get to say his goodbyes, he still chats to his old teaMMAtes. “I’m in contact with four or five of the Celtic boys every couple of days because we’re so close”, said the midfielder.

“It was just strange leaving them behind. Those years at Celtic were the best of my life. But my head was set on getting away for a fresh challenge.”

Since moving to South Wales, Turnbull has played 16 games in the English Championship. He admitted that a lack of minutes in Glasgow was a key reason he left.

He said: “I wanted more Game-time than I was getting. That was probably the deciding factor. I was in and out last season. I’m not sure if that was down to my contact situation or not.

“But I’m not restarting my career at Cardiff. I’m kick-starting it to get back to the levels I know I can get to.”

There was no doubting Turnbull’s capabilities but there were others ahead of him in the pecking order. His play style perhaps didn’t entirely suit Celtic, but he more than contributed to two seasons of utmost prosperity.