Brendan Rodgers has issued a warning to the Celtic board that echoes Martin O’Neill’s famous comments about ‘life in the slow lane’.
O’Neill operated in an era when Celtic could push the boat out and compete with English clubs for top players, offering the wages to entice Chris Sutton, John Hartson and Neil Lennon away from the EPL.
For the year to June 2000 Celtic had a turnover of £42m with each of those players costing £6m in transfer fees with legit through the books wages believed to be around £30,000 a week.
That level of investment/recruitment was unsustainable but it did drive the club forward, competing domestically against the tax cheats across the city and re-establishing the club in Europe.
When the spending started to dry up O’Neill lost enthusiasm. Celtic wisely took another direction as English clubs went crazy on the back of Sky Sports subscriptions.
“We don’t want to stand still. How do we improve? We improve in Europe and in order to do that, it’s simple, we need quality players.
“The minute I start thinking otherwise and get comfortable, then progress stops.
“In football, you can’t afford to do that. It’s too late once the rot sets in. It’s too late and I’ve always tried to guard against it.
“Especially after our first season, we built on it last year. We want to keep building it but I totally respect how difficult it can be, the financial side is tough at times.”
In 2018 Rodgers has a different problem, the former Liverpool boss is brilliantly rewarded- delivers success- and understands the market place that he works in.
Since recruiting Rodgers every area of the club has improved.
He has turned £1m players into £7m transfers, delivered dominance domestically and two years running hit the Champions League jackpot.
On the back of that Celtic can swoon about and renegotiate commercial deals
After the first year under Rodgers turnover was £90.6m, the previous year it was £52m. That rise was down to ability in the dug out not the boardroom. Rodgers took home a handsome salary, every penny was earned and deserved.
Over the last few days the manager has expressed his concerns and frustrations, in the best interests of the business these footballing issues need addressed.
Rodgers has made mistakes in the transfer market, even Jock Stein did, google search for goalkeepers signed.
Whatever the failings of Marvin Compper and Charly Musonda, or the lack of development in Eboue Kouassi there is a Stuart Armstrong or Dedryck Boyata. If Rodgers hadn’t arrived those two could have joined Ronny Deila’s other recruits on the sidelines. Remember Gary Mackay-Steven, Nadir Ciftci, Scott Allan and Ryan Christie?
Rodgers isn’t a hot head, Scottish referees have escaped his ire despite extreme provocation.
He has been mellow with the media despite some serious, or desperate fishing.
If internal communications have broken down and the manager has to go public it’s time for people inside Celtic Park to earn their salaries.
Turnover to June 2018 will have touched £100m, without Rodgers driving the club the slow lane arrives and banners covering empty seats will be back on the agenda.