By Jon Blair
May 24 2002

Dundee United manager Alex Smith fears he has lost out to Celtic in his efforts to sign Tom Boyd. Dundee United manager Alex Smith fears he has lost out to Celtic in his efforts to sign Tom Boyd.

The defender was offered a new one-year contract by Martin O'Neill to stay at Parkhead next season.

But the 36-year-old seemed reluctant to sign to sit on the bench for most of the campaign, which prompted Smith to make his move.

Now the Tannadice boss seems resigned to missing out on Boyd, who he believes will now remain at Parkhead.

Smith said: "I've not heard anything from his agent on that, but I think he's been offered some kind of deal to stay at Celtic."