Celtic manager Martin O'Neill is ready to offer Dutch winger Bobby Petta a lucrative new contract. Petta's current deal expires in June 2003, but the Irishman will go against his early promise to delay contract talks until the new year in a bid to tie the influential winger to the Parkhead club on a long-term deal.
O'Neill has been delighted with the 27-year-old's form over the last two seasons and will soon open negotiations with his agent Peter Harrison. O'Neill confirmed: "I was intending not dealing with contracts until after Christmas. But I will be speaking to Bobby's agent about his situation. It has been long overdue and although it will be an initial discussion, I'm hopeful we can reach agreement before long."
O'Neill has also been boosted by Stilian Petrov's insistence that he will not turn his back on the club for a crack at the Premiership. The 22-year-old Bulgarian international still has four years remaining on his current contract.
Filed by Shane Murray
