Two former Leeds United left-backs are in the news following shock moves.

Ian Harte has headed to St Mirren on a free-transfer, just two years after his agent claims Celtic were prepared to pay £2m for him!

His agent Willie McKay revealed this as he put pen to paper on a deal that will tie the Irishman to the Buddies until the end of the season.

St Mirren reportedly have beaten off interest from SPL and Championship clubs to land Harte, who left Leeds fans either dazzled by his brilliance or baffled by his incompetance.

Following United's relegation from the Prem in 2004, Harte moved to Levante in Spain. He returned to England in 2007 with Sunderland but was released in 2008. After an unsuccessful trial with Wolves, he was spotted training at Thorp Arch at the end of last year fuelling rumours of an emotional return to ER - but as Simon Grayson headed east from Blackpool, Harte went west to the Seasiders and played four matches before they let him go.

I think "Hartey" will do well in the SPL and wish him luck, okay he used to leave me pulling out my hair at times when a quick winger would skin him alive, but he was good for a goal or two (28 in total) and pretty deadly at free-kicks.

However an equally surprising move is the loan of Dan Harding to Premiership bound Reading.

The Reading Chronicle report that even Royals fans are baffled why they have signed a player who cannot even get in Ipswich's team at the moment.

However Steve Coppell once coached Harding when he was a youngster at Brighton and was showing the kind of form that persuaded Kevin Blackwell to spend £850,000 on him in 2005.

Despite being born in Gloucester, Harding claimed to be a long-time Leeds fan on signing and spoke of being in the crowd when Wolves knocked us out the FA Cup at ER in 1998, but after an encouraging start, it all became a bit of a mare for Danny Boy and eventually we swopped him for Ian Westlake. Another brilliant move by Blackwell in the transfer market.

Again Harding began life well at his new-club, but after a slump of form he was loaned to Southend and scored against Leeds earlier this season!

At least he won't be doing that again! well at least for another couple of seasons! 

Photo: Action Images via Reuters