Peter Lawwell, Chairman of Celtic, Dermot Desmond, Non-Executive Director of Celtic, and Michael Nicholson, CEO of Celtic, are seen in attendance prior to the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and theRangers at Celtic Park on March 16, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Q: Has there been any update on your own contract talks?
Brendan Rodgers: “There’s no further update, no. And for the sake of honesty and clarity, I can tell you exactly where we’re at. So, I said when I came here first that I’d do a minimum of three years. People had me out the door at the end of last season. I was going to various places. I said then, like I’ll say now, there’s nowhere to go. I love being here. I’ve done two years; I’ve got one more year to go.
“Dermot, Michael, and I had a conversation over the summer on where we were at and where it sits with me and everything else. And I said I’m very happy here. There are conditions we want to be able to improve and be better, because I’m not the type of manager who’s for maintaining anything. If it’s just something to maintain, I’m not the manager for Celtic. It’ll be someone else.
“But to build and grow and develop and push, then of course, I love being at Celtic. So, when that time comes, when the club offers me a deal or not, then it doesn’t make a difference to me because I will every single day of my life give everything here to the very last day.
“And when the club feels there’s a time to make an offer, then they will do so. But as I said, it’s slightly different from a manager’s perspective from a player. For players, clubs need to ensure that they’re tied in, especially at this time of the year when there’s maybe only a short time left. It’s slightly different for a manager, but it doesn’t change my hunger and desire here for the work.”
Celtic Chairman Peter Lawwell and Chief Executive Michael Nicholson in the directors box. Celtic v Kilmarnock, Cinch Scottish Premiership, 17 February 2024. Photo Stuart Wallace Shutterstock
Q: Would that be your message to the support—that you are working behind the scenes to get things to another level from last season?
Brendan Rodgers: “Well, that’s… that is a clear message. I’m not the one who’s to sit here and just maintain levels. My coming here to Celtic is… this is a really fast-moving club, and you have to keep moving, move quickly. It’s one of the biggest clubs in world football that has a demand and an expectation of it. And the only way you get better within that is by improving and developing. So, the message to the supporters is, everyone here, we will be doing our utmost to improve on last season. And it’s a really exciting season ahead. I’m so looking forward to it. And like I said, if we can add to where we need to add, then it can be even better for us.”
Celtic v St Mirren – Peter Lawwell and Michael Nicholson in the stands during the cinch Premiership match at Celtic Park, Wednesday November 1, 2023. Photo Andrew Milligan
Q: Can we take it from that, then, that if you feel the club’s ambition matches yours, you would be quite open to staying beyond this season?
Brendan Rodgers: “No, I don’t want to be really arrogant to say that. You know, I think that Celtic has an expectation and should have an expectation because of the size of the club we are and what the demands are here. What I’m saying, for clarity, is I love being here. And yes, there have been some challenges on the pitch and off the pitch since I’ve arrived, but that’s management, that’s coaching.
“But in the main, I’ve absolutely loved it here. And I will continue to do so, however long that is. But like I said, there has to be that ambition from everyone. It’s no good for the manager to have it and the players not, or whatever else. Everything has to be aligned. And I know that the club are also very keen to continue to progress and develop.”
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This board are chasing Brendan out the door with their pathetic low-ball offers for players,who can blame him if he walks away because the board are not backing him and gambling on reaching the champions league group stages before spending any of the millions they have squirreled away.
Shame you didn’t write this 10 years ago, Peter. You could’ve cut and pasted it every year and saved yourself the typing.
We had the chance to bury sevco once and for all , but lawell has stated “we need a strong rangers” !! You think if the shoe was on the other foot the govanites would have went easy on us ? No chance !