Celtic have fined Aiden McGeady two weeks' wages - about €32,500 - and suspended him from training with the first team for the same duration after a dressing-room row between the Republic of Ireland international and Gordon Strachan, the club's manager, in the immediate aftermath of Celtic's draw with Hearts on Saturday.
McGeady will not feature in Sunday's visit to Falkirk or, crucially, the Old Firm derby at Ibrox Saturday week.
"Following a breach of club discipline, Celtic manager Gordon Strachan has suspended Aiden McGeady from training with the first team for two weeks and has fined the player two weeks' wages," confirmed a Celtic statement. "Gordon's decision has the full support of the Celtic board of directors."
In one swift move, Strachan has imposed his authority on a player who is idolised by Celtic supporters. The pair clashed earlier this season, after defeat to Rangers on August 31st, but matters turned even more heated at the weekend with McGeady railing against his manager.
This is, moreover, unlikely to be the end of the matter. Indications last night were that McGeady will not quietly accept his punishment and it is now almost certain the 22-year-old will not remain with the Scottish champions beyond next month's transfer window.
"He (McGeady) is shocked, disappointed and I can say he will be appealing," said the player's representative, David Holbrook. "He feels that the action is completely unjustified.
"He wants to play in that game (the Old Firm derby) and in every Celtic game - he remains 110 per cent committed to Celtic; he's supported them, trained with them and loves them. But there's a big difference between how Aiden feels he's been treated by the club's hierarchy, as opposed to his relationship with the club at large."
As both Scotland's reigning player of the year and young player of the year, McGeady will not be short of offers should his relationship with Strachan prove beyond repair. There is growing interest from a clutch of English Premier League clubs and even Bayern Munich are said to be on the verge of making a bid for the Glasgow-born midfielder, who has 22 caps for his country.
Earlier rated at between €9 to €11 million, Celtic are unlikely to recoup McGeady's full value if they feel his place in Strachan's squad is now untenable and he must be sold within the next six weeks.
Meanwhile, Derry City manager Stephen Kenny has revealed how Celtic have beaten off competition from a host of English clubs to sign Niall McGinn.
The 21-year-old winger is set to complete his move to the Scottish champions after snubbing approaches from south of the border.
Kenny said: "We've had scouts here from all sorts of clubs in the Premiership and genuine interest from Wigan, Derby, Ipswich and Swansea but Niall has opted to make the biggest move of his career and join Celtic.
"It's a huge step for any player to make but for a boy of 21 who has only just turned full-time to take, it says a lot about his ambition and desire to play at the highest level.
• Guardian Service
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