It won’t happen, but Celtic should now be identifying the next Celtic manager as Brendan’s replacement should he decide to leave in the summer, as looks highly probable at this stage…
Brendon Rodgers, Manager of Celtic, looks on prior to the match between theRangers and Celtic at Ibrox on August 31, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
It’s no secret that Brendan Rodgers is heading into the last year of his contract, and with the current mood around the club at the moment, it looks rather unlikely that he will be seeking to extend that period and the summer of 2026 will most likely see the Irishman exit Celtic Park for the second time, this time with his head held high.
There’s been some whispers that Brendan could be ready to end his stay right now, but he has already reiterated his desire to see out his three years, as he has on many occasions since he returned for a second spell back in 2023, and we have no reason not to take his word. He made a promise and will see it through unless he is ’emptied’ by the Celtic Board who apparently briefed against him in the Sun newspaper on Friday.
Brendan Rodgers, Manager of Celtic, reacts during the match between theRangers and Celtic at Ibrox on August 31, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
If our board had any credibility about them, then they would currently be sounding Brendan out about his future plans whilst contemplating a new long term deal for the Irishman, but we all know that they aren’t going to do that when the manager has been talking about ambition and signing players to make us competitive in the Champion League. That would involve for instance signing the striker to replace Kyogo who left in January. They now have had two transfer windows to sign a replacement striker and failed miserably. That’s not a sign of the ambition Rodgers is looking for to extend his own stay beyond his three year promise. He is, as he said himself, not a maintenance manager.
Brendan signing a new deal would be great, something that would instantly galvanise the support and give us a much needed feel good factor, but it’s looking increasingly unlikely as the days go by. That makes it all the more imperative that the club starts the search for his successor, even at such an early stage.
Brendan Rodgers at Ibrox. theRangers v Celtic,31 August 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
This board will probably leave it to the last minute, or even more alarmingly promote John Kennedy or/and Shaun Maloney, or heaven forbid turn yet again to Neil Lennon. Jobs for the Bhoys sort of thing.
What we need is a like for like replacement. Brendan is an elite coach and we need someone cut from the same cloth if we want to remain successful and make an impact in Europe.
Names such as Bodo Glint’s Kjetil Knutson, Club Brugge’s Nicky Hayen, or the currently out of work Marco Rose should be on our radar, coaches of that Ilk. But once again those in the board will most likely just sit on their hands waiting for things to play out, just as they always do, then appoint a manager that is in the job because of them and is entirely working to their brief from day one.
Brendan Rodgers at Ibrox. theRangers v Celtic,31 August 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
That will effectively end any hopes of Celtic returning to the top table in European football. Munich was Celtic’s last hooray.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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Elite manager, meus arsus. Elite at sideways football maybe.
Roy Rogers is not the cowboy we need. Never been the same since “lucky” Ange went.
Please stop this “elite” garbage. He could not beat Kairat over 210 minutes and penalties. He could not beat the worst Sevco team since their formation over 90 minutes at their own hell hole. He could not even register a real goal scoring chance over that period too. At what point will you stop happy clapping his slow, tepid build up play?
Agree with everything you said boring g football sideways all the time bring back big Ange
No manager will want to come near us any time soon and I think they already have their next management team in the building already, Kennedy and maloney with possibly Lennon and mulgrew in the background. Yes men to go with the plan/strategy and work with whatever crumbs the parasites give them.
FINALLY!
Some REAL fans telling it as it really is!
Rodgers is NOT the ELITE manager we give him credit to be! Just look at these recent results for all the proof you need!
I will grant him one thing for sure; when he returned after stabbing everyone in the back last time around, (and make no mistake, that’s exactly what he did when he walked away mid-season leaving us in the lurch), he showed immense backbone!
But from his very first nervy interview he was extremely clear that he was not going to walk away again. But he also ery cleverly added “I will still be here as manager until May 2026 UNLESS THE BOARD FIRE ME”.
From that first day I knew what he meant! Look at his track record anywhere. He gets bored! He gets stale. Heck, even Barry Ferguson knew how to play teams against him and he wasn’t even a real manager! Think about how long it’s been since we last beat the worst rangers team in their thirteen year history! A team we used to have for breakfast, just like other teams in the SPL do!
Rodgers is playing you! Wake up!
We need to be refreshed anyway.