Ian Bankier has described the appointment of Brendan Rodgers as the happiest moment of his Celtic career.
The Celtic chairman had watched the stands slowly empty under Ronny Deila as supporters became more and more frustrated by bland football and watching a club in decline.
Another low key management appointment was expected but out of the blue the entire focus of the club was turned around with the ambitious appointment of Rodgers.
Crowds are up, the football is worth watching again and crucially Celtic are back in the Champions League with Barcelona in town next week.
Every area of the club has felt the benefit of Rodgers’ arrival with Bankier delighted by the way the appointment has worked out.
“For me it was probably the proudest moment of my professional career,” he admitted after today’s AGM. “That day when I welcomed, along with the directors, Brendan to the club was just astonishing.
“Celtic, they say always surprises you, and it really did so on that particular occasion, it was fantastic.
“So as we’ve already seen, we’ve attracted a top class manager to the club.
“What he’s brought in terms of his backroom staff, the whole approach to coaching the team, the quality of player that he can attract, all of these things are there now for us to see. All in all it’s been a great appointment.”
Overall participating in the Champions League is likely to boost Celtic’s coffers by close to £30m although there are a number of costs including bonuses that needs to be subtracted from that headline figure.
