Former Celtic forward Chris Sutton believes that Brendan Rodgers is likely to depart the club at the end of the season, no matter how it ultimately unfolds…
Speaking after Celtic’s recent downturn in performances, the Sky Sports pundit expressed his belief that Rodgers will seek a move back to the English Premier League when his current deal comes to an end.
Rodgers has come under mounting pressure amid a string of disappointing results that are derailing the Hoops’ season both domestically and in Europe.
Growing fan discontent and ongoing dissatisfaction with the club’s summer transfer business have further fuelled doubts about his future as Celtic boss.
Although Sutton has previously been an admirer of Rodgers, he now suspects the manager’s time at Celtic could be coming to an end. The ex-Hoops striker maintains that Rodgers will aim to depart on his own terms – ideally after guiding the team to another league title.
Speaking via Sky Sports, Sutton said: “I mean, my view is Brendan will be off at the end of the season, whether it’s back to the Premier League or wherever. But when he does leave, he’ll want to leave on a high and want to leave with another league title. The team haven’t performed well.”
Sutton’s remarks echo the increasing feeling among supporters and pundits that Rodgers’ return to Celtic may be approaching its endpoint.
Despite the manager expressing a willingness to remain despite not being offered a new contract, uncertainty persists due to a lack of support in the boardroom and Celtic’s abysmal performances since the start of the season.
Rodgers seems certain on seeing out his ‘three years’ at the club. Whether he stays beyond his three years or leaves at the end of the season, delivering another league title will be at the front and centre of his mind.
Rodgers asked for quality additions to improve his squad in order to make an impact in European football, notably the Champions League. Brendan was denied that by a board who have ended up asset stripping the team only to lose out on £40m in Champions League revenue and now potentially millions in retail sales as The Celtic Fans Collective initiate their ‘Not Another Penny’ campaign which will play a prominent role tomorrow evening at Celtic Park as Celtic take on SK Sturm Graz in the Europa League.
Rodgers made it clear that without the ambition in the boardroom matching his own he would not stay beyond the end of his contract to be a maintenance manager. Instead he’s found himself in crisis management mode with a weakened and incomplete squad struggling to create chances or score goals.
That’s exactly why Chris Sutton is bang on in his assessment. This will be Brendan’s last season as Celtic manager and he’ll be determined to leave with as many honours as possible.
Conor Spence
Celtic in the Thirties in Two Volumes – Brilliantly researched and written by Matt Corr. An unmissable addition to any Celtic bookshelf. Click on the image below to order your copies…
Yet another piece making excuses for the current free fall our club currently finds itself in.
Conveniently ignoring the signs that were on show, in the second half of last season?
Rodgers wasn’t able to motivate a core group of players, that was formed under Ange, and Rodgers hasn’t been able to expand upon that.
We are a club, and will remain in having a high turnaround in quality players. Nothing we can do about it, within the financial footballing landscape as it is.
So we are going to remain only as a development club within the bigger picture of European football. Hardly helped that Scottish football is hardly an attractive prospect for incoming players with looking to boost their own careers.
Actually was in favour of Rodgers returning, in order to expand upon what Ange had started to create. Looked like it was going to happen up until the start of this calendar year, and reached its maximum levels in Munich.
Since that glorious failure, we have been subjected to way to many embarrassing failures since, and nothing more than excuses for the likes happening.
Rodgers has become the biggest problem, and at a stage where, I don’t believe he can get anything from the player’s under his watch.
Certainly not going to get a response from them, with his constant snide remarks towards our players.
What is more baffling, is the excuses continue, while his managerial decisions go unchecked, unable to motivate or develop players for ourselves.
Personally don’t believe that this shitshow can continue much longer imo.
Results have to take a massive upturn before the next international break. That in itself will take some amount of doing, considering that we haven’t been able to win a meaningful big game, this whole calendar year to date.
Even a collective in place, looking for changes within our club. Yet they haven’t a clue about whether the biggest change required remains within the managers position?
Certainly change will come upon the field of play, and don’t believe it can be any worse than what we are getting subjected to, for way to long now imo?
Of course there is an outside chance of Rodgers being able to turn things around.
Not confident that he can any longer, but more concerning is that I don’t even think that he’s to bothered in doing so.
But why would he? With the amount of excuses being made for his own current failings imo?