Following Brendan Rodgers’ shock exit, former player Chris Sutton has told Celtic to go and get a title-winning manager to replace the 52-year-old at Parkhead.
Desmond slams "self-serving" Rodgers
This all feels eight months too early, but Rodgers simply couldn’t wait until his contract expired and has pulled the plug on his time at Celtic. With the Bhoys eight points behind Hearts in the Scottish Premiership off the back of their 3-1 defeat against the unexpected league leaders, the manager has made the decision to resign.
To say that not everyone is happy about Rodgers’ exit would be quite the understatement. Majority shareholder Dermot Desmond pulled no punches in his statement following the news, slamming the manager as “self-serving”.
In a scathing review, he said, in part: “When his comments were made publicly, I sought to address them directly. Brendan and I met for over three hours at his home in Scotland to discuss the issue.
“Despite ample opportunity, he was unable to identify a single instance where the club had obstructed or failed to support him. The facts did not match his public narrative. Regrettably, his words and actions since then have been divisive, misleading, and self-serving.
“They have contributed to a toxic atmosphere around the club and fuelled hostility towards members of the executive team and the Board. Some of the abuse directed at them, and at their families, has been entirely unwarranted and unacceptable.”
Rodgers will likely have his own say on that statement, but for now the focus around Glasgow will be set on finding his replacement. And Sutton has already told Celtic to go and get a title winner.
Sutton tells Celtic to bring back Postecoglou
Instantly reacting to Rodgers’ exit, Sutton told Celtic to “bring back” Ange Postecoglou, who was recently sacked by Nottingham Forest after just 39 days in charge. At this stage, the Australian arguably needs the Bhoys just as much as they need him in what would be yet another managerial reunion at the club.
As things stand, Martin O’Neill is in charge on an interim basis, but Celtic will be hoping to end that spell and appoint a permanent manager as soon as possible.
It must be said that, despite his recent failings, Postecoglou wouldn’t be a bad option. He’s been there and done it in the Scottish Premiership, winning the title twice in two seasons, and drew plenty of praise from top managers like Pep Guardiola and Arne Slot during his time in England.
In fact, responding to comments from Slot that the Liverpool managed hoped Tottenham won a trophy, Ange joked: “I’m not an evangelist. To quote Monty Python, I’m just a naughty little boy!
“[Slot’s opinion] is what I love about football. There’s got to be differences, people who are prepared to do things a little bit differently.
“There’s that variety, that opinion and that allows emotion to come into it. I hate to think people think I’m just some kind of showman or something. I want to win.
“That’s still the core of my being, I hate losing, I want to win and I want to be successful.”
The 60-year-old desperately needs redemption in the dugout after his spells at Tottenham and Forest, whilst Celtic need to get their next appointment right if they are to bridge the gap on Hearts. As of right now, it’s arguably the perfect match.