Boss Will Stay For A Euro Push

May 25 2008 By Mark Guidi

CELTIC defender Gary Caldwell reckons boss Gordon Strachan won't walk out on the club this summer in search of a fresh challenge.

It has been suggested the Hoops manager will call time on his Parkhead career after making it three-in-a-row.

Strachan's CV is excellent and English Premiership clubs would be interested if he decided to quit the SPL.

But Caldwell has no concerns about his manager moving back down south to escape the Old Firm goldfish bowl.

And he claims the £10million kitty from another crack at the Champions League will help keep Strachan on board.

Gary said: "The boss wants to take us further in Europe and believes he can do that.

"Pitting yourself against the greatest players and managers is a challenge we all thrive on. That's why I believe the gaffer will still be here next season.

"Winning the league guarantees us entry into the Champions League.

"To get there this season we had to defeat Spartak Moscow in a nailbiter.

"So we know how hard the qualifiers can be and to go straight in is a boost."

Caldwell also paid tribute to Strachan for having the character to withstand some serious stick this season.

The lowest point came on April 5 when fans inside Parkhead chanted for him to go after a 1-0 defeat by Motherwell.

But the Hoops bounced back to win seven games on the spin and sealed the title at Tannadice last week.

Caldwell said: "Losing that day to Motherwell was probably the lowest moment.

"To put so much into a game and have nothing to show was soul-destroying.

"It takes a strong manager and backroom staff to come out the other side with the championship.

"It's a measure of the manager that he never showed his feelings when he was receiving criticism. There is far too much of it and he deals with the abuse really well.

"He always believes he is doing a good job and that he has good players."

The Hoops boss has shown great loyalty to his first-team stars this season and stood by Caldwell when fans were calling for Bobo Balde (below) to return.

The Scotland stopper is grateful for his gaffer's backing and has been bemused by the flack that has come his way.

He said: "The best quality the manager has is faith in his players.

"He sticks by you and that's all you can ask.

"It would have been easy for him to jump on the bandwagon and have a go at the players but he knows what he sees on the park.

"We just lacked a cutting edge at times and to get through that takes a lot of character.

"People have said I've been on my best run of form at Celtic in the last five or six weeks. But I think I've had a great spell for two years.

"I've won two titles, the Scottish Cup and reached the last 16 of the Champions League two seasons in a row.

I'm pretty happy with that.

"The manager has defended me but does that with all the lads."

Caldwell has savoured the past couple of days and will now enjoy a summer break.

He said: "To win any title is amazing but to do it on the last day of the season was just a great feeling.

"And we always believed we were the best team."