Celtic play down Craig Bellamy transfer talk

Bellamy looks sure to leave Man City (PA)

Celtic manager Neil Lennon is pessimistic about the club's chances of securing a second spell at Parkhead for Craig Bellamy.

Bellamy spent last season on loan at Cardiff after being left out of Manchester City's 25-man Barclays Premier League squad and is looking for another club for the new season.

But the Bluebirds were heavily subsidised by Bellamy's parent club last season and Lennon admits Celtic would not be able to pay all the Wales striker's wages.

Lennon, who played with Bellamy during his loan spell at Celtic Park in 2005, said: "It looks a remote possibility at the moment, unless some sort of scenario comes up where he could come down a bit on the wages.

"He is not back yet (from holiday). We would also need to know what the situation is and what the proposal would be.

"(Chief executive) Peter Lawwell is looking at that, although I am not over-confident on that move."