Brendan Rodgers believes the individual who went behind his back to suggest he’s plotting his escape from Celtic was guilty of a ‘cowardly act’ – and urged the club to launch a probe to unmask them.
The Northern Irishman has frequently expressed his dissatisfaction with the way the Parkhead hierarchy operated during the transfer window.
Last weekend, a report in a tabloid newspaper claimed his remarks hadn’t gone down well with his paymasters, with one club source quoted as saying: ‘Senior figures inside the club believe Rodgers is engineering his exit. What he’s said in public has torn the cub apart.’
Addressing the matter in his media conference on Friday, though, the manager completely refuted that allegation, going as far as to state that he’s open to remaining in Glasgow beyond next summer.
‘It was interesting when it came, when I was shown that,’ Rodgers said during an extraordinary press conference.
‘My honest take, I thought it was a cowardly action, by whoever it is.
Dermot Desmond, Peter Lawwell and Michael Nicholson have come under fire
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Brendan Rodgers was disappointed with someone from inside the club leaking stories
Brendan Rodgers has also claimed that he would be interested in staying on at Celtic
‘It’s not something that you would want and certainly my relationships with the guys that I am close with, if I didn’t hear it within the board, then I would struggle to understand the why.
‘Because since I’ve come back or came here first, all I’ve tried to do is drive the club forward. Was I surprised by it? Not really.
‘I think I was briefed upon the first time I was here, when I left and now since I’ve come back. But I’m thick skinned and it’s because I want to do so well here and determined to do so well.
‘But I know, Dermot (Desmond), Michael (Nicholson), the guys that I work with on a daily basis, or certainly communicate with on a daily basis, they feel the same as I.’
Rodgers was asked if he felt the matter was serious enough to merit an internal investigation and if the individual concerned should resign.
‘I don’t think there’s any doubt,’ he replied. ‘I think if you’re sat in the position that I’m in with the weight of the club on your shoulders, and to be the spokesperson and be the manager and be the psychologist and be everything, it’s so important that you feel supported.
‘And I think that if anyone is briefing against that person when they know they could come and speak to me at any time, I’m here from early morning to late in the evening or come to my house or do whatever.
‘Listen, we all will have frustrations at times in our life and especially at Celtic where we’ve always got something or are saying something, but I would never ever think – and it’s no disrespect to you guys – but I would never ever think of going to bring that to the fore to hurt someone else.
‘Especially when that someone else is trying to give everything to the club. And they actually didn’t have to come back but wanted to come back because of his love for the club.
‘So, yeah, I’m pretty sure there will be some questions asked on it because like I said, there was quite a bit of detail in there – and wrong I may add. But hopefully we’ll find out.’
Contrary to what the source suggested, Rodgers is adamant that he’d consider staying at the club beyond 2026 if certain things can be ironed out behind the scenes.
‘Yeah, 100 per cent,’ he said. ‘As long as everything is aligned. And we can operate how we want to. Absolutely. That’s why I came back.
Rodgers revealed that he had no problem with the supporters voicing their unhappiness
‘I came back to hopefully stay for more than three years. What I would guarantee was that I would do three years which I’ve been categorical in that. So, I want to do three years and I’m more determined to do it.
‘And if going forward, if I do get offered a deal, then of course there needs to be conditions within that allows me to work to the best I possibly can. If not, then it’s maybe just there’s two philosophies that don’t quite add up, I’ll accept that. I’ll go away, I’ll be a Celtic supporter for the rest of my life and we’ll go our separate ways.
‘But, my hope was to come back here, to take the club forward. We’ve seen progress, we’ve seen Europe, we’ve seen everything. So, can we sustain that?
‘It hasn’t quite happened for us in the Champions League this year.
‘But, I’m hopeful that in the future something can be resolved.’
Rodgers also said he’s got no issue with supporters who plan on protesting against the board on the back of a disastrous transfer window by entering Rugby Park late on Sunday.
‘Absolutely,’ he added. ‘That frustration is shared. We all felt that. Absolutely. Hence why months out we were saying about what we needed in the squad. So, yeah, I totally get that.’
