Darren O'Dea says he will have to look for another club if he is not going to play regularly for Celtic
Defender wants to play regular football following Ipswich loan
Darren O'Dea has revealed he will have to look for another club if he is not going to play regularly for Celtic next season.
The Republic of Ireland defender has spent the season on loan at Ipswich Town, but is keen to make an impact at Celtic.
He will return to Parkhead in the summer in the hope of forcing his way into Bhoys manager Neil Lennon's plans next term.
However, the 24-year-old has acknowledged that, if he is not going to figure in Lennon's first team, he will have to try to secure a transfer.
Privileged
"I will go back to Celtic but whether I'm there at the start of the season, I don't know," said O'Dea.
"It's a fantastic club and one that anyone would be privileged to play for. At the end of the day, with internationals like this, I need to be playing club football every week.
"I will assess that when I go back for pre-season. If I play at Celtic, there is no other place I would want to be. But if I'm not going to play, we need to look elsewhere.
"I'm going to have to move if I don't play. I'm a fan of Celtic and I've been there for several years now and there is no other place I would rather play.
"But it is about playing, it's not about sitting on a bench and not being part of things anymore."
O'Dea has yet to hold talks with Lennon over his future, with the Hoops boss likely to sign a new contract in the coming weeks to secure his own position at Celtic.
The centre-half said: "When I went back, he had a league and a cup to think about so it wasn't the time or the place to speak to him then.
"But there is plenty of time over the summer and I will be back in pre-season so I will see what happens. I don't know where I will be at the start of the season."
