Kapo feels 'deep injustice' after contractual rift with Celtic

Celtic have confirmed Olivier Kapo has left the club after little more than two months. The Frenchman made just two appearances for the Glasgow giants since joining in November.

Celtic say they took an option to terminate the former Birmingham and Wigan midfielder's contract this month. The Celtic manager, Neil Lennon, told the club's official website: "These are the facts. Olivier Kapo signed a contract with the club which allowed us to terminate on January 10, 2011.

"Celtic took this option to terminate as we felt he had not done enough to justify a longer-term contract. We were willing to look at an extension to this short-term contract with Olivier. However, he was not willing to accept these terms. Clearly, everyone at the club wishes Olivier well for the future."

However, Kapo has claimed on his blog that he quit the Hoops after they changed the terms of his contract offer.

He says he was informed this month that Parkhead officials wanted to reduce the salary and were offering a shorter term than initially agreed.

In an open letter on www.zebwe.com, his blog, Kapo said: "This is not an impulse or a whim. That is why today I feel the need to explain why, in the interests of transparency. On 4 November, 2010, I signed a contract which bound me to the club until 2012 with a probationary period of three months.

"During that time, I required no pay. My sole concern was to recover the pleasure of playing. A moral commitment was then made by the football management of the club that my trial period would be converted, as expected, into a contract of 18 months.

"I began looking for an apartment for my family and a school for my children. My future was with Celtic.

"On 11 January, there was a twist. The executive management called me and said my contract would be changed. My salary would be divided by three and would now expire on 30 June, 2011.

"The position of the club was a 'lack of experience', because four games had been postponed due to the weather and I had been out injured with a thigh injury in late December, from which I have now fully recovered.

"I still do not understand this sudden change of situation. I feel a deep injustice, even though the coaching staff wanted me to stay.

"Despite the insistence of Neil Lennon, I did not want to stay longer in a situation where a young coach, who was an experienced player, is not able to impose his choices on the financial management."

Meanwhile, Celtic defender Andreas Hinkel has returned to Scotland for rehabilitation after a serious knee injury. Hinkel was ruled out for the season when he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in training last August. After surgery, he spent several months in his native Germany under the care of the national team doctor.

The 28-year-old says he is pleased to be back among his team-mates. "My progress has been perfect so far so it's been really good," Hinkel said. "There have been no complications and I am very happy to be back here in Scotland, seeing all the lads again. I started to run last Monday, so I can see the light at the end of the tunnel now."

However, the full-back was reluctant to set a deadline for his return.

"I want to be back as soon as possible but I can't set a date on anything just yet," he said.