The turmoil of Celtic’s abysmal summer transfer window has put the club in a fragile state, with the high-profile journalist Stephen McGowan characterising the current scenario as a ‘standoff’ between Brendan Rodgers and club hierarchy…
The Celtic Board. Celtic Champions 2025. Dundee United v Celtic, 26 April 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star).
Although there have been claims of internal disputes, Rodgers still has the support from fans, many of whom see him as unfairly let down by a board that had a shambolic transfer window to the point the club were scrambling about for EPL rejects and free agents at the eleventh hour on deadline day.
Discontent with the mute executives has been simmering for years and has escalated in recent weeks, worsening after a club insider briefed against the manager and undermined Rodgers through spouting a story to Roger Hannah at the The Scottish Sun.
Now, McGowan thinks that given the club’s healthy financial status, there are a million reasons why Rodgers will not walk out the club.
Brendan Rodgers at Ibrox theRangers v Celtic,31 August 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
Speaking on Graham Spiers’ Press Box Podcast, the Herald journalist said: “There’s three million reasons why he won’t resign. We know how football works. Managers, if they want to go, want their contract paid up.”
“And the very last club who want to pay Brendan Rodgers two-and-a-half million pounds to go away are Celtic. They barely pay two-and-a-half million for a centre forward, so why would they pay it to a manager who’s not honouring his contract?”
McGowan added: “I think it’s a bit of a stand-off now. It looks like the relationship is in a very bad way from the outside, and it’s a case of who blinks first.”
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)
Rodgers is tied to a contract that will see him through until the end of the season, and with Celtic unlikely to pay a large sum for his exit, the ‘standoff’ as McGowan labels it could continue for months, while fan support for the manager keeps mounting pressure on the board.
The initial move which was agreed at Wednesday’s Fan Consultation meeting which The Celtic Star attended is scheduled for Sunday’s clash with Kilmarnock. Supporters will coordinate a ‘late entry’ protest to visualise their discontent at the board. More on this fan protest on the next page.
Conor Spence
Just a wee bitty concerned that timing for the ‘walk in’ at Kilmarnock was collectively agreed by all groups but then unilaterally changed by one group. Need to stay together and groups not choosing to do their own thing. I know that division would suit the Board. I understand the 12th man notion but being united is more important.
If you want to send a message to players, especially foreign players who have no sense of history between fans and board, go ahead with this absurd plan. The message several of them might take is “I’m out of here”.
There are other more effective ways to get a message to the board, antics during a game are not among them. We attend Celtic games to support the team and – hopefully – to see them win, the Celtic Way.
I would be very much in favour of changes within certain aspects of our club, especially with the overall coaching set up.
However, I’m still unconvinced by Rodgers role within the shitshow over the summer. Not buying into this nonsense that he is blameless either, especially as it’s unknown what goes on behind closed doors. Rodgers case is weakened by numerous rank rotten footballing decisions taken in our bigger games, over considerable time now, and without success gained either?
Even at that no amount of protesting, is going to change that as a club, we are way too big for Scottish football, and in return Scottish football will never allow ourselves to fill our full potential either.
Where is the solution in that?
Last 16 of CL is possibly the max we could be aiming for in ambition terms, which would involve actually winning a knockout match in European competition. Something we haven’t managed for so long, not even managing a decent away victory, which is way overdue also.
So is it being unreasonable to think that could change this season?
I believe so still, especially with not buying into our squad being as weak as to many are trying to portray at present either.
I will continue to support our team, and hopefully Rodgers can get the motivation factor installed back into the team, even if I’m not totally convinced at present regarding him.
Protesting against the board, holds potentially to many negative effects upon the team for my liking.
And yet those willing to take part in the likes, would still be looking for tickets if and when europa league success is gained this season, as still believe it’s possible, especially with jota hopefully returning for the knockout phase imo?
So will the likes deserve the rewards that are still potentially on offer?
Would be a massive NO imo
The window was wasted but we don’t know EXACTLY who in the building should be sanctioned. “Sack the Board” is a ludicrous response. Lazy, knee-jerk tub thumping from the usual self-aggrandising individuals and keyboard warriors.
Rodgers is nothing if not, sly, smarmy, and manipulative. He’s a good manager but not great. He was probably the best available when Ange left. As manager, and with Desmond’s ear, it is not conceivable that he is not sitting in board meetings. Inconceivable. But somehow he always manages to duck when shit flies about signings. There are reasonable questions to be asked about this judgement when you look at the money shelled out on his wish list last time.
When Rodgers goes, and he is working his ticket, we will struggle to replace him. If the board have someone in mind as his replacement then maybe they should have acted during the window.
Maybe it’s not the board that needs replacing.