If you don’t think that Brendan Rodgers was having a dig at the Celtic CEO earlier today when talking to Sky Sports (see below) they you haven’t been paying attention. Rodgers last game as Celtic manager was two years ago to the exact day that Neil Lennon ‘resigned’ as Celtic manager.
Rodgers. many people believe, left because of too great an influence from the boardroom at Celtic Park into the players coming into the club or indeed going out. Rodgers believed that this was his domain as ultimately he had the responsibility as the Celtic manager for the results on the park. And by the time this had become an issue he had more than enough success on the park to justify his stance.
Sadly that was not something that the Celtic CEO Peter Lawwell was ever going to allow. Rodgers had been indulged early on but after a few dodgy signings the ‘I Know Best’ CEO started to increase his involvement in the football operation and this was something that an elite coach such as Brendan Rodgers was never going to allow.
And today Rodgers did our club a massive favour by outlining the modern structure that Celtic is going to need if we are to attract a top class elite football coach. None would work under the terms and conditions that Neil Lennon – who had the weakest of hands in February 2019 after his mutual contesting exit from Easter Road. Not allowed his own backroom staff, or scouts, given a boardroom selected coaching staff including the Lawwell prodigy John Kennedy, he was expected to deliver if he wanted the job permanently. It worked, another treble was won and the compensation from Leicester City was already banked.
“Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the cleverest CEO of them all,” could have been heard in the Lawwell household. “Don’t know about cleverest but certainly the highest paid” might have been the answer from the mirror.
Neil Lennon ultimately failed but he was only part of the failure that has its origins in the summer stand-off in 2018 between Rodgers and Lawwell. There was only ever going to be one winner and for a while Peter was convinced that was him. Today without mentioning names, Rodgers declared himself the victor and in doing so et Celtic on a path we should have continued on two years ago today.
“In the modern game, to have a director of football, especially at a club like Celtic, I think it’s absolutely critical to have that,” Rodgers said to Sky Sports
“The manager has to be able to bring in the players he wants to,” the former Celtic manager continued.
“He’s accountable for the football results on the pitch, so he has to have that say and that accountability bringing in the players.
“If the manager can work alongside someone like a sporting director then that will aid the football department.
“I’m pretty sure that would be something Celtic are looking at as the way forward for a club of their size and stature.”
It is ‘critical’ for Celtic to appoint a Director of Football, according to Brendan Rodgers.
The former Celtic boss explained how the relationship between a new manager and DoF would work around player recruitment.
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) February 24, 2021
I think it is wrong that Kennedy has been appointed caretaker its looking like he’s a mole in the dressing room for the board
”But ”, said Peter in reply to Rodgers , ” We have a football director – ME ! ”
Yep, we definitely need a Director of Football and ideally in the next few weeks. That might just give us time to at least ‘announce’ a new incoming manager by some time in April. Late April would be pushing it but any later and we’re impacting next season. I hope – alongside season ticket renewals – that this gives Desmond the rocket up the jacksie which might ensure this all happens. I feel half dread and half excitement, purely based on how long this will all take. And the talk about Dom McKay having to stay put, that’s fine, he can conduct things from the laptop and phone, with a few day’s annual leave taken to interview candidates. It’s not as if the SRU can give him a bad reference, he already has the job! This is a MASSIVE opportunity for us to realign the structure and potentially deliver long term success. We have to get this right. Not Bankier saying chill with the still but the right structure (finally) and maybe, just maybe with a good Director of Football, it will make it easier for managers to do well and if not, go quickly and be replaced. Although ideally we want a long term appointment. Not sure who though? Endless names but I think we need the manager’s boss in place first then get the manager…
For the jast 5 years I have been slated for my condemnation of Lawwell. And when I absolved Rogers of any wrong doing when he upped and left.* knew it was in response to a confrontation with Lawwell.ive said it many times before and I,ll say it again,lawwell is a cancer on our club and h e should have went with Lennon. Another thing we should not be allowing him any say in the selection of a manager.he leaves in June and just get him out of the club as soon as possible.!