GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - NOVEMBER 23: Odsonne Edouard of Celtic celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Ladbrokes Premiership match between Celtic and Livingston at Celtic Park on November 23, 2019 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Bain has lifted the lid on how a last-minute text message to his agent set in motion one of Scottish football’s most remarkable transfers.
The goalkeeper spent seven and a half years at Celtic Park after completing a move that was not officially finalised until 11:45pm on deadline day in 2018.
Bain was on loan at Hibs from Dundee when he spotted coverage on Sky Sports News that Celtic were seeking emergency goalkeeping cover.
Celtic had been locked in negotiations with Motherwell over a deal for goalkeeper Trevor Carson, but the two clubs could not agree on a fee.
Sensing an opportunity, Bain asked his representative to contact Celtic goalkeeping coach Stevie Woods and register his interest immediately.
He told Open Goal: “I saw it on Sky Sports News that they were going to sign big Trevor, so I just texted my agent and said, ‘Give Woodsy a text and say I’ll come.'”
The deal remained uncertain throughout the day, with Bain recalling that his phone would not stop with updates as the situation swung back and forth.
He said: “The next day, it was on, it was off. I was on my phone all day. But at Hibs we had a game against Motherwell at home, so I’m at pre-match and I’ve not got a clue what’s going on for the game.”
Hibs manager Neil Lennon pulled Bain aside before the match and gave him his blessing to leave, telling him the opportunity was too good to turn down.
Bain recalled: “Lenny actually called me into his office just before we were waiting to get ready. I’ve got my Hibs trackie on. He basically says, ‘Look, I wouldn’t have let you go, but it’s Celtic. I think that you go. You’ll love it there.'”
With the green light given, Bain rushed straight to his car and drove directly to Celtic Park without stopping home to change clothes.
He said: “I jumped in the car, met my agent on the motorway, still got my Hibs trackie on. I never went to the house to change.”
Arriving in his Hibs gilet, Bain was caught off guard by the waiting press photographers, having expected little fanfare given his background at smaller clubs.
He added: “I’m coming from Dundee, where if someone’s signing for Dundee, no one’s bothered. Anyway, get out of the car and they start flashing, and I’ve got my Hibs gilet on, ready to go.”
The transfer itself was unusually complex, involving a three-way arrangement between Celtic, Hibs, and Dundee, with Scott Allan and Simon Murray also moving as part of the deal.
Bain explained: “I had to go back to Dundee as a loan player, Simon Murray went from Hibs to Dundee, Scotty Allan had to go back to Celtic and then to Hibs. That deal actually never got completed till 11:45pm.”
Bain acknowledged that had he taken time to go home and change, the deal might never have been completed within the window deadline.
He said: “If I had gone home and got changed, that might not have even happened. It might have gone over the time, and that might never have happened.”
The goalkeeper went on to contribute to four Treble-winning sides during one of the most successful periods in Celtic’s history across his seven and a half years at the club.
Now at Falkirk, Bain reflected: “Thankfully, I had seven and a half years there and I loved it. The last year was a bit tough, but I loved every minute of it.”
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