Strachan shuts window

The Celtic manager, Gordon Strachan, has called for an end to the January transfer window. Strachan has gone back on his initial support for the idea because he feels the heightened activity during the two windows leads to instability.

Celtic had a relatively quiet month, bringing in Willo Flood from Cardiff. But the deadline meant Flood had to play Celtic in the Co-operative Insurance Cup semi-final for loan club Dundee United amid widespread speculation over his future.

He said: "When the window first came in I thought 'that's good, because coaches have to get on and coach'. After that period of time if you don't get the players in, well, you are meant to be a coach, well then coach. It seems bizarre, they like being called a coach, but if they don't get £50m to spend on players they start grumbling.

"There is so much nonsense that comes with it, it's destabilising. There are clubs all over the place with unhappy players who seem to be talking at this time. We are all right. It hasn't been a problem to us, but I look elsewhere and think 'I wouldn't like to be you as a manager having to deal with what's going on'.

"What would be a good idea is if you could only sack the manager at the end of the season. It would save all the grumbling. You have to pick a good one and get on with it.

"It saves all the nonsense that managers in England are getting and the abuse coming their way."