Perrier-Doumbe in Strach blast

Perrier-Doumbe: Disappointed

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Outgoing Celtic defender Jean-Joel Perrier-Doumbe has hit out at former boss Gordon Strachan for what he feels was unfair treatment during his final season with the Hoops.

The Cameroon international is set to leave Parkhead this summer once his contract expires and he admits his two-year spell in Glasgow has not been a completely enjoyable experience.

The 30-year-old was a regular starter for Celtic during a loan spell from Rennes in 2007, with a number of eye-catching performances persuading the club to offer him a permanent deal.

However, he found himself slipping down the pecking order last season, after spending five months on the sidelines with an Achilles problem, and has blasted Strachan for the manner in which he handled the situation.

"I have mixed feelings about my time at Celtic," Perrier-Doumbe told France Football.

"At the beginning, I was a regular starter in the league, in the Champions League, I scored the goal in the Scottish Cup final.

"Everything was going well. Then I got injured against AC Milan in October, I came back fine before the manager gave me a really hard time.

"Last summer, I asked to leave when the club signed Andreas Hinkel. The manager categorically refused. He never played me again.

"Did I annoy him when I asked to leave? I don't know. Anyway, I didn't understand anything. No-one understood.

"I tried my luck again in January, because I had interest from Norwich and Coventry for loan spells, also in Hungary, at Ujpest. Again the manager refused. Outcome - I spent my season on the bench."

Options

Perrier-Doumbe has now set his sights on reigniting his career ahead of the 2010 World Cup next summer and admits he has attracted plenty of interest.

"(Greek outfit) Larissa are interested and Freiburg, who have just been promoted into the Bundesliga," he added.

"In France two Ligue 2 clubs, who are going to be playing for promotion, have made enquiries.

"I'm taking my time. In my heart, I would love to go back to Ligue 1, which I played in with Auxerre and Rennes.

"I don't want to make the wrong choice, knowing that my primary motivation is to feel useful.

"If I play, I will again become an option for (Cameroon). I have already played in the African Nations Cup and the Confederations Cup with Cameroon. To be in the World Cup in 2010 would be massive."