THE DELAY in completing Alan Stubbs' record-breaking transfer to Celtic has left the door open for a counter-bid from the Premiership.

The England B defender is still a Bolton Wanderers player, despite being paraded in Glasgow last week as the Parkhead club's prize catch.

That means that any club caught off guard by Celtic's surprise swoop, could move in - a sure test of whether Arsenal or any other Premier League high-flyer, were ever seriously interested in meeting Wanderers' asking price!

The involvement of an unlicensed agent, Neil Rioch, has cast serious doubts over the validity of the deal, the threat of a FIFA enquiry and the possibility of heavy fines, suspensions and sanctions against Stubbs, Celtic and the agent. The consequence of the turmoil was spelled out by the Football Association this morning when it was confirmed that the £3.5 million transfer had still not been registered and that Stubbs remained a Bolton player.

Now Celtic are ready to call in fully-licensed agent Phil Morrison to help complete the formalities of the transfer and save them from any further embarrassment.

They still insist that Stubbs will be registered as a Celtic player on July 1 - the date originally agreed between the two clubs. There has been no contact between Celtic and Wanderers since the transfer was agreed 10 days ago. Stubbs admits the problems arising since the transfer was announced have caused some anxiety for his pregnant wife Mandy. But he has vowed to press ahead with plans to move his family to Scotland this summer.

Wanderers stars Keith Branagan and Mixu Paatelainen are recovering from hernia operations carried out early in the close season to give them the full close season to recuperate.

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