Ex-Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths posts cryptic social media message amid retirement talk as he looks for new club
LEIGH GRIFFITHS appears to have revealed he wants to return to football for the sake of his kids.
The ex-Celtic striker has been without a club since a stint at Australian outfit Mandurah City which ended in October.
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While last month he was arrested by police investigating sports gambling before being released without charge.
But the goalscorer, 32, seems determined to put his best foot forward in 2023 after posting a cryptic clue on Instagram.
The former Scotland star shared an image of a lion looking down at its cub.
He wrote: “Here’s to 2023.
“Thought about quitting then I noticed who was watching.”
He had previously explained how even his kids were asking about his future plans after being made a free agent.
Although he admitted that retirement has crossed his mind, he made no concrete statement on what his intentions were.
But this social media post could be the clearest indication yet that he has something in the pipeline.
We recently told Griffiths has been offered a route back to football by ambitious Irish second tier side Waterford.
The club are owned by Fleetwood Town chief Andy Pilley, who appointed former Celtic hero Scott Brown as manager in the summer.
They are desperate to return to the top flight after being relegated last season in a relegation play-off and see former Scotland star Griffiths as a marquee signing for the new season, which begins in February with an away trip to Wexford.
The 32-year-old last played for Falkirk, before his spell Down Under and netted twice in 12 league games for the Bairns in their League One campaign last season.
He boasts an impressive career record of 180 league goals in 286 starts for Livingston, Dundee, Hibs, Wolves, Celtic and Falkirk.
The most candid Griffiths has been about his future was back in October when he was back training with Livi, as he revealed his son was asking when he’d be playing again.
On his search for a new club, the ex-Scotland striker told BBC Scotland: “The longer it goes on I think, ‘Is football for me anymore? I’ve been without a club for five months now and, although Davie has said I can come in and train with them, he has said there is no deal on the table.
“I’m still not seeing managers pick up the phone, which means do they want me at their club or is it time to call it a day? That is something I’m still considering at the minute. As a free agent you’ve not got a budget, you’ve not got a price-tag on your head, everything is still negotiable.
“I’ve got an 11-year old son who keeps asking me when I’m going to be back playing football again, and it’s a difficult one to answer. I just say I’m training as hard as I can and hopefully a club comes calling soon.”
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