Celtic knew they had to address their goalkeeping situation in the summer after Kasper Schmeichel’s unplanned retirement.

Despite Viljami Sinisalo producing steady performances as Celtic’s number one, Martin O’Neill wanted a new shot-stopper, and in the end, he turned to Sam Johnstone from Wolves on a season-long loan deal.

Celtic tried to re-sign Scott Bain from Falkirk in the summer

Bain left Celtic during the summer of 2025 when Brendan Rodgers was still at the club, with the 34-year-old wanting to earn regular starts.

He has got that at the Falkirk Stadium, including helping John McGlynn’s side record an impressive top-six finish last season after promotion to the Premiership.

But, according to McAvennie, a director at Falkirk has told him that Celtic went in for Bain at the start of the season when the 2026 summer transfer window was still open, as stated on his Let Me Be Frank Podcast.

Simon Houston sarcastically stated: “On Falkirk, their goalkeeper looked right good. I wonder if Celtic could get their hands on that guy.”

McAvennie: “That’s embarrassing. I was told by a director at Falkirk that Celtic tried to make an offer for him. Celtic came in to take him back.”

Houston: “What, just recently there, when the window closed?”

McAvennie: “A couple of months ago. Just at the start of the season, they came in, so I don’t know why all this was.”

Houston: “I wonder why he wouldn’t go back. He maybe didn’t fancy another seven years on the subs bench. He had a really good game.”

McAvennie: “The problem with Bain. The problem with keepers is that, unfortunately, he would be great in our side because he is kept busy. Unfortunately, a lot of the Celtic keepers, they aren’t busy, and that’s what makes them special, because they have to keep on it and they have to keep alive.

“Sometimes, for 70-80 minutes, they have nothing to do, and then all of a sudden, they have to get called on. That’s, unfortunately, where Bain fell down, and people like him. But I think Sinisalo is better than Johnstone.”

Bain vs Sam Johnstone compared

Even though some felt that Sinisalo was good enough to be Celtic’s number one, O’Neill wanted another keeper to compete for that main spot.

As per, it took the Hoops an age to bring someone in, with many, many names linked and suggested over the course of the summer.

Bain’s name didn’t pop up in the crazy rumour mill, but in the end, Johnstone was signed towards the end of the summer transfer window.

It has been a mixed ride for Johnstone, who was dropped after two games, but he has recently returned between the sticks, so how does he compare with Bain?

Johnstone was brought in to elevate Celtic’s level, but he hasn’t done that, and in truth, he isn’t better than what Sinisalo has shown during the last 12 months.

It could even be argued that Johnstone isn’t even better than what Bain used to produce as Celtic’s goalkeeper, or what he is doing at Falkirk right now.