Kenny Shiels believes that Brendan Rodgers can keep the peace for Celtic’s Champions League trip to Linfield.
Since the draws were made for the Champions League qualifiers one potential match has stood out- Linfield v Celtic.
The champions of north eastern Ireland need to overcome La Fiorita of San Marino to book a clash with Celtic with the home tie scheduled for July 11 or 12- the height of the Orange marching season.
While Linfield have made moves to clean up their act in recent years they still act as a focal point for the extremist views which are given legitimacy by the Orange Order and marching season.
With a club formed by Catholic priests and proud of it’s Irish and Catholic roots scheduled to visit the fixture will act as a magnet for the most undesirable elements from the ‘loyalist’ community.
Shiels has managed across Scotland and Ireland and believes that the return of Brendan Rodgers can take some of the sting out of the fixture.
“I think that Brendan is respected and admired by all sides of the community,” the current Derry City boss told The Sun. “There’s that affable quality about him.
“I’m sure people admire and respect what he’s achieved in the game, especially for a fella from Carnlough.
“Brendan is held in high esteem by both sides. It would be good that he was there because of his background.
“The location of Windsor Park is in the heart of Union territory.
“If it’s an evening kick-off, and it will surely go ahead earlier on July 11, then I would say there was more jeopardy about the game in terms of potential trouble.
“There will be a massive security force to police the game.”
It is expected that the match will take place on July 11 with an afternoon kick off with neither club taking tickets for the away match.