If Brendan Rodgers is considering a return to manage Celtic he will inherit a much changed club to the one he left in February 2019- with more changes in the pipeline.
When Oli Burke, Timo Weah and Jeremy Toljan were signed on loan in January 2019 it didn’t feel like long term planning. Deals for Vakoun Bayo and especially Marian Shved, the millionth winger probably sealed Rodgers’ departure with Leicester opting for the Irishman as they sacked Claude Paul.
The seeds of Rodgers’ departure had been sown the previous summer when Peter Lawwell’s brinkmanship saw Celtic lose out on John McGinn with free agent Youssouf Mulumbu signed instead.
Halfway through his four year contract Rodgers was gone, as he considers a return Lawwell has been sidelined to the role of non-executive Chairman with Michael Nicholson and Chris McKay fronting up a different proposal to the one that Rodgers had walked out on in 2019.
Back-to-back Champions League campaigns under Rodgers pushed Celtic’s turnover through £100m for the first time but the boardroom brakes were applied in the summer of 2018, highlighted by the failure to sign McGinn with no replacement found for Moussa Dembele.
Defeat to AEK Athens ended hopes of a third successive Champions League appearance, Cluj and Ferencvaros continued that pattern as the downsizing continued.
During his first spell at Celtic Rodgers highlighted the lack of facilities at Lennoxtown, especially the lack of a full sized indoor pitch for training on the biting winter days.
There are various plans to upgrade Lennoxtown and Barrowfield floating around without seeing the light of day.
Facing a second successive Champions League campaign with a young, valuable squad tied onto long term deals would be a very different proposition for Rodgers to the one that he left in February 2019.
There are still obstacles to over come but last night’s breaking news suggests that there is enough common ground between the two sides to plan ahead.
A week after Ange Postecoglou left are you more open to the return of Brendan Rodgers
Yes, he is clearly the best candidate, we have to move on
No, he crossed a line, we can't go backwards
Perhaps there could be a bonus if BR returns?
You would think that he would secure assurances that Lawwell sticks to his “non-exec” role,
I.e. Lawwell is not allowed to involve himself in operational / football decisions?
Grow Up!
If the so called celtic supporters that don’t want the best man job back give your season book back there’s plenty of people who would be happy to take them football is a business as long as we do the business on the park that’s all that matters give him the keys & let him do what he’s good at & bring good entertainment & keep the trophies the huns will be a different animal this season.
Personally I’d not mind Brendan Rodgers back some fans won’t… But I think it would be easier to win fans over if he hits the ground running and gets a winning team on the park…. But the people upstairs who he worked with may take more time to be convinced… but that’s my personal opinion
So it looks like sunbed Sam is to return that’s got disaster written all over it,LIEWELL won’t be keeping his distance as Nicholson and other nobody that is with him in Santa Ponsa are there under the instructions of LIEWELL and his rules.
Scud, stick to worrying about your club’s kid..
HH
What are you on about ya DAFTIE?
I was livid with how he left but after what’s happened in the last 7 day’s wae big Ange and the Lawell (John McGinn) factor maybe it’s just modern day football.
If he does return I will give him my full backing as it would be great for our club and the club ALWAYS comes first…..
HH
I was livid with the way he left us but wae the Lawell/McGinn factor maybe he had a point anyway the only thing that matters is the club keep moving forward in this excellent period.
HH
Lol going by your post you must be related to Gareth Gates with that stutter of yours posting the same article twice.
Your a clown shoe! You talk utter garbage to boot ! That ” bennys” patter ohhhh what a weirdo . Anyway bring back brendan best manager since Jock Stein hands down!! That man basically won 3 Trebles! Lennon did nothing those last few months and should never been appointed either time!! Lets fill the stadium for ” sunbed sam”! Come home Brendan! If losing the aussie brings him back its been a great deal!! Tho i never bought in to the aussue as i have lived in Australia on and off since 2008! Utter ” eplll mhate” sycophants and totally seek relevance and validation from england and America living so far away i suppose but its vomit inducing! Much like the really suprising love of the monarchy which i couldnt get my head round tho again identify and seeking approval and they see it as glamorous very weird. But i digress Its Brendan for most of us now ! Hail Hail
He may wish Mo Johnson as part of his backroom staff. Alright by you then?
Lol at Stesano long lost relative and separated at birth from Dando.
My opinions are like ARSEHOLES everybody had one.
“A Much Changed Club”!
A little economical with the truth there, Joe surely?
Little has changed while Lawwell’s there. You could bet on that!
Desmond appointed him back based not on what he can do, but on what he’s done!
Money!, Joe. Money!
It is Desmond’s raison-de-etre!
Celtic fans either sup it up or leave. But just leave your dignity at the door, please!
Erm , I don’t mean to look and sound pedantic , but shouldn’t Rodgers not be trying to convince the Celtic FC board that he has changed ? A great start would be that his passport is out of date preventing him from moving to another club ,anywhere in the dead of night ! Ken ….