FORMER Celtic and Hibernian midfielder Liam Henderson’s future has been plunged into uncertainty after Bari were relegated to the fourth tier of Italian football.

The Galletti missed out on promotion to Serie A last season in the play-offs but have failed to register for next season’s championship after being declared bankrupt.

An effort from local entrepreneur Ferdinando Napoli and Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani to save the club with a takeover failed, as a purchase could not be completed before the 6pm registration deadline on Monday.

Read more: Hibernian's John McGinn keen on Celtic move as more negotiations expected

Bari will now have to start over from Serie D, Italy’s highest amateur league, with Italian rules allowing the mayor of Bari to choose a group of investors to lead a phoenix club.

Henderson joined the club from Celtic in January and impressed during half a season in Puglia, scoring twice in 19 appearances for the club.

His form reportedly caught the eye of Serie A sides Fiorentina and Parma, but the midfielder’s future is now up in the air following Monday’s developments.

The Mayor of Bari Antonio Decaro was distraught by the news.

“This is a bad day, not only for football in Bari, but for the whole city,” he told Gianluca Di Marzio, as reported by Football Italia.

“It’s a day of defeat, which burns 1,000 times more than any defeat on the pitch. We tried everything possible, I perhaps even went beyond my remit as a mayor.

“I did it as a citizen and also as a fan. We have to keep working with all our strength because football in Bari cannot end on this July afternoon. The city doesn’t deserve it and the fans don’t deserve it.”