My thoughs are similar EWS. I have watched this thread unfold but haven't posted until now. Partly because I'm not sure how I feel about it.
I think Mark must have enough belief in himself to feel he can challenge for the no.1 Jersey through time. We know he is a hard working keeper and regularly puts in extra training sessions.
Money talks and I'm sure he'll be well paid for sitting on the bench. He should however receive expert coaching to improve the weaknesses in his game. This may well indeed be what is needed for him to make more of an impression on the National Stage.
The synic in me feels that sometimes the old firm buy up players to stop them playing against them. I hope this isn't the case on this occasion.
The media attention he will receive is a big issue though as Mark is quite a private and quiet person. Don't think he'll enjoy that part of it.
I don't blame him for going, it's obviously an offer he couldn't refuse and we get a bit of money from letting him go now. I really wish him all the best, but I'm not convinced this is a great move for him, although I do understand why he has to take it. I do believe that we had made him a good enough offer to keep him, reportedly until 2009, but that was before Celtic came calling.
I am however pleased that Michael Fraser will, at last, get a chance to prove he is capable of keeping the number 1 jersey. He has been pretty fed up sitting on the bench and I think we might have lost him before long if he wasn't going to get a game.
Good luck to them both.