LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 02: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers shakes hands with Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill before the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Sunderland at Anfield on January 2, 2013 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Martin O’Neill has suggested that Brendan Rodgers may have already signed a new contract to manage Celtic.
On Friday at his media conference to preview the SPFL Premiership opener at home to St Mirren the current Celtic boss spoke at length about his expectations, those of the club and referenced summer discussions with Dermot Desmond.
During season 2002/03 Celtic found themselves in similar circumstances, the January break was dominated by speculation over the future of O’Neill who was in his third season in charge of Celtic, delivering their first back-to-back titles sincve the early eighties.
It was announced in January 2003 that O’Neill had signed a new 12 month rolling contract, speaking yesterday at Hampden the former Celtic and Aston Villa boss gave an insight into what really goes on with Celtic contracts.
Asked why an agreement hadn’t already been reached O’Neill told the Daily Record:
OK, good point. But I’ve had times with Dermot as well, where I might have signed a contract in January but didn’t do it until August time. It honestly didn’t really bother me.
Do I think there might be something similar in place between Dermot and Brendan? Yeah, I would.
I don’t want to sound incredibly sycophantic here about Dermot but if you do come to an agreement with Dermot in August and nothing happens in October, I would still say that that’s still on. That’s my view – even if it’s a kind of biased view.
According to that timeline O’Neill led Celtic to the UEFA Cup Final in Seville inbetween agreeing and finally signing his new 12 month rolling contract, he left Celtic in May 2005 due to an illness that his wife was suffering.
As yesterday’s media event demonstrated the subject of Rodgers and his contract situation is always going to be on the news agenda.
With Celtic CEO Michael Nicholson keeping a very low profile the only source of information is likely to be Rodgers through his pre-match media conferences.
Absolute fantasy, Brendan will be off soon ,this corporate greed and the bottom line is money in the bank they will not part with it,stop giving them your money and they might listen
If there was a deal signed they should let the fans know. We need a boost especially after this transfer window. Offering 1.5m for a player being sold at 6.5m isn’t bartering it’s proof the biscuit tin is back. How embarrassing after the money the club, players & fans gas raised.
Hope he stays but I think three years will be enough for Brendan !
There’s no deal for Rodgers or players would be coming through the door.
Simple as that
BR is probably the ceiling we can expect as a manager at Celtic and in the SPL in general.
Why would anyone with a similar or better profile would want to come to Celtic after seeing how top managers get treated by those in charge?
He will leave, whoever replaces him will not be like for like.
I have a sneaking suspicion his replacement is already in the building, and he may even think that himself.
If that’s the case, I am seriously disillusioned by what is going on at Celtic.
I have often mused over why we never seem to get many ex players singing their praises about life at Celtic, virtually all who leave Sevco nvr have a bad word to say.
Looking at what’s going on now, I think I have my answer.
Celtic could spend 60m in the next fortnight, and still have 40m in the kitty, with another 40m to come if we qualify for the CL.
Just what exactly is enough in the bank for PL and his ass lickers to consider “spending”?