Brendan’s love for Celtic is genuine, but all signs point to him leaving | OneFootball

Brendan Rodgers yet again proved what a class act he is by giving a straightforward and effective media conference yesterday afternoon, professing he wants what’s best for the club, and I for one believe that he is completely genuine. If only we could say the same about his bosses!

Brendan Rodgers of Celtic Crvena zvezda v Celtic, UEFA Europa League, Football, Rajko Mitic Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia – 24 September 2025 Belgrade Rajko Mitic Stadium Serbia Photo Nikola Krstic Shutterstock

As much as I’d love him to stay, I’ve sadly resigned myself to Brendan Rodgers ending his second spell with the club this coming summer. I’m sorry to say it but I think it’s now inevitable, and deep down every Celtic supporter probably knows it’s the most likely outcome come the end of this season.

Brendan Rodgers as always has been linked with a few jobs down south, and just yesterday he stated how coaching in the EPL was a holiday compared to the intense pressure of the Glasgow goldfish bowl, so a return to England could well appeal to the Irishman after he makes good his commitment to remain at Celtic for the three years he signed up for in June 2022.

Brendan Rodgers, Celtic Glasgow press conference ahead UEFA Europa league match against Crvena zvezda at Rajko Mitic stadium, Belgrade 23.09.2025 Belgrade Rajko Mitic stadium Serbia Photo VM/MN Press

It’s clear that Brendan, despite his regular defence of his bosses, is as frustrated as the rest of us with their constant interfering, severe lack of ambition, and increasing obvious signs of incompetence, which can only point towards Brendan packing his bags when his contract expires.

Brendan, speaking yesterday at his media conference had this to say about how he feels about Celtic and the current turmoil caused by the failing inside the Celtic Boardroom.

“Like I said, I think that with my experience, you tend to try to focus on what you actually can do. I think if you go too deep into it, and of course, we want the synergy throughout the whole club. That’s what we all want, we all want what’s best for Celtic.

“Control what you can, which is the football element and look to do that on the pitch and on the training pitch every single day. That’s really where my focus is.

“I try not to get too involved, of course I’m involved. I love Celtic, I love managing Celtic, I want Celtic to be the very best every single season. Of course, there’s a focus there on the general health of the club, but like I said, it’s for me to focus on the performance level of the team and that won’t be clouded at all. I need to make sure that we perform and we make results.”

Aberdeen v Celtic – Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers during the Scottish Premiership match between Aberdeen and Celtic at Pittodrie on 10 August 2025. Photo Stephen Dobson PSI (IMAGO)

He was very clear ahead of the flag-day opener against St Mirren when he flagged up his 200% commitment to see out his contract and also his wish to remain at Celtic IF the club could only match his ambition, saying that he would NOT stay of that wasn’t the case as he was not a maintenance manager.

Has there been any signs of that ambition since the eve of the current season kick-off?

That’s why Brendan will not stay at Celtic, in my view at least. Hopefully I’ll be proved wrong come the end of this season.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

Watch the Celtic manager’s interview with Sky Sports at Lennoxtown yesterday ahead of his media conference, with everything that was said there available to read below…

Q: Do you want to start with injuries then, Brendan? How is everyone ahead of this weekend?

Daizen Maeda of Celtic scores a late goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and Motherwell FC at Celtic Park, on 5th October 2025. Photo Mark Runnacles IMAGO/Shutterstock

Brendan Rodgers: “Daizen Maeda will be out. He felt his hamstring a little bit towards the end of the last game against Motherwell. He went away internationally to see if it would get better, but he obviously didn’t play when he was away. So, he will miss this weekend, and we’ll assess it after that. Paulo Bernardo’s been ill, so we’ll see how he recovers in the next 24 hours. Apart from that, everyone’s okay.”

Paulo Bernardo of Celtic vies with Shane Blaney of Livingston during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Livingston at Celtic Park on August 23, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Q: Alistair Johnston?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, Ali’s back in training, which is great news for us. Hopefully, all being well, we’ll finalise the squad tomorrow, but hopefully he’s good to go.”

Alistair Johnston of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the Premier Sports League Cup match between Celtic and Falkirk at Celtic Park on August 15, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Q: How do you assess the start to the season? What needs to improve for you over the coming months?

Brendan Rodgers: “I think it’s always a challenge, the European aspect of everything. There’s a lot made of the past and what has happened. But really, it’s addressing now the future going forward. We’ve shown glimpses of our game in a lot of our domestic games. We just need to find a more consistent level and, of course, that’s something I’m really looking forward to doing. The players are working very, very hard. We had a really good victory in the last game against a good team that were unbeaten in the league so far. So, we knew we had to really work for that, and we showed our spirit and our quality by the end of that game. So, we want to continue in that vein. Now, the focus is very much on the seven games in 21 days, and that’s my only focus.”

Q: What do you expect from Dundee? It can be a difficult trip up the Dens.

Steven Pressley, Manager of Dundee gives the team instructions during the Premier League match between Rangers and Dundee at Ibrox Stadium on August 09, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, always. Our record there is very, very good as a club over numbers of years, but it still doesn’t make it an easy place to go. I think Steven Pressley will have them really well organised. He’ll have them competitive. They’ve shown already this season that they can get good results and performances. So, we know coming back after the international game, we need to get our fluency and get our tempo into the game as quickly as we can and look to make it really difficult for them, hopefully.”

Continues on the next page…

Q: Brendan, I don’t know if you’re aware, but the Celtic Fans Collective have put out another statement today, ‘Not Another Penny’ into the club. Is there a concern that the divide between the supporters and the club is getting deeper?

‘Not Another Penny’ campaign from Celtic Fans Collective

Brendan Rodgers: “Well, one, I haven’t seen that. Two, I would say, listen, the Celtic supporters are at the heart of this club. That is what Celtic is synonymous with, and hopefully going forward, we can find that balance that allows that great support to spill onto the field and obviously, we have that harmony throughout the club. But until then, I’m sure both parties will continue discussing. In the meantime, it’s really about affecting what we can, and that’s on the pitch.”

Q: Just on that, do you think it can have any impact on the team in any way?

Brendan Rodgers: “Well, we have to control that or try and influence that as much as we possibly can. I think on a day-to-day basis up here on the training field, of course, it doesn’t. Our focus is very much on training, developing, preparing the team and then obviously bringing that out onto the match-day. Then from that, we get the great support, and they can hopefully push the team and that’s all you can hope for.

Alistair Johnston. Dens Park, Dundee v Celtic. 14th January 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Q: Brendan, do you almost feel that yourself and the team can be caught between the two because you can see both sides of the debate almost? You see what the fans want, and you can also see what the board might be getting at and where they come from as well. Do you feel that sometimes you and the team can be stuck between the two?

Brendan Rodgers: “No, I just think that I can really only affect going forward and affect the future of the team and influence as best I can. You can’t control everything as a manager, but you can certainly influence. The biggest influence is for the players and the training and the team and that’s what we have to focus on.”

Celtic CEO Michael Nicholson at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock v Celtic, 14 September 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Q: In terms of the meeting, Brendan, that took place last week between some figures from the club’s board and fan representatives, as manager, were you given any feedback to what was discussed or do you try and separate yourself from that as much as you can?

Brendan Rodgers: “I get to understand and get to hear a little bit, but of course, that remains closed, what we’ll speak about.”

Q: How difficult has it been and how frustrating is it when you’ve still got all these things bubbling on in the background? Look at the moment you guys had in the last game where there was a real togetherness in that last minute, because then you might think that’s been put to the back burner and then it’s the international break and it starts to bubble up again?

Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and Motherwell FC at Celtic Park, on 5th October 2025. Photo Mark Runnacles IMAGO/Shutterstock

Brendan Rodgers: “Like I said, I think that with my experience, you tend to try to focus on what you actually can do. I think if you go too deep into it, and of course, we want the synergy throughout the whole club. That’s what we all want, we all want what’s best for Celtic. Control what you can, which is the football element and look to do that on the pitch and on the training pitch every single day. That’s really where my focus is. I try not to get too involved, of course I’m involved. I love Celtic, I love managing Celtic, I want Celtic to be the very best every single season. Of course, there’s a focus there on the general health of the club, but like I said, it’s for me to focus on the performance level of the team and that won’t be clouded at all. I need to make sure that we perform and we make results.

Continues on the next page…

Q: Still a while before the transfer window opens again, you’re linked with Bobby Clark. Is there anything you can tell us about that?

Bobby Clark of Derby County during the Championship match between Derby County and Southampton at Pride Park on October 04, 2025. (Photo by Cameron Smith/Getty Images)

Brendan Rodgers: “It’s one that’s come from a long way out. I wouldn’t normally say anything on anything, but I really don’t know where that has come from at all. Especially in October. I’m really not sure where that’s come from.”

Q: Is it like what happened in the last window, Brendan? Is there a real urgency when you’re doing business, if you’re doing business, it’s early doors come January?

Brendan Rodgers: “Listen, for the overall health of the club, like I say, it’s not just about one window. The club is about progressing each time you go through each window. That’s the whole idea. Obviously, when January comes, the squad, if it needs strengthening, then that’s what hopefully can be done. But we’re quite away from that yet, so if you can just park that for a few more weeks, then we can focus on the football here and now.”

Q: You mentioned there’s seven games in 21 days. Does this feel at the start of a kind of intensive spell for the club?

Brendan Rodgers: “I think it’s a really exciting spell for the club. I think that early part of the season, where sometimes you are playing one game a week, and obviously, we’ve had some of the European games as well. But I think when you come into this period, and especially after the break in November, you’re really starting to get into the thick of it then. But there’s no doubt this period now, between now and the next break, is some big games in there, some really important games. But it’s for us to really embrace and really take on the challenge, and let’s just do it. It’s exciting, seven days as well, we begin next Sunday.”

Q: It’s going to be something like Dens Park on Sunday. Does that put extra pressure on you, somewhere where you haven’t lost for so long? As you mentioned earlier, I think it’s 1988 since Celtic last lost there?

Dens Park Dundee. Dundee v Celtic. 14th January 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Brendan Rodgers: “I haven’t really thought of it, I don’t know the date, but I now know. It never comes into the consideration really. I think that we go into the games, I’ve always enjoyed going to there. It’s a nice big open pitch and we always get a great support there. We know it’ll be a difficult game. Steven will ensure that. He’ll have his team really, really well organised. They’ll work very hard, but the onus will be on us to bring our game to hopefully make the result.”

Q: How have you found the international breaks? Obviously, you’ve got these seven games now, you’re trying to get a bit of rhythm up. It’s been quite difficult to do that when you’ve had these stoppages.

Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, I think the preference would have been, ideally, was that you’d lose one of these and put them in, whether you had a break in January would have been the ideal scenario. It is that little bit challenging, of course, to find that rhythm, but there’s still enough games in there. We all know it’s there before the start of the season. We all know. You just want to make sure that you can find your performance level whilst you’re playing and get to the next international break in a good place.”

Continues on the next page…

Q: I think this is the first time I’ve had the chance to speak to you since Russell Martin left (the)Rangers. What was your reaction to the news and the surprise that he was given such a short period of time, albeit there was fans protesting?

New Rangers Head Coach Russell Martin ninth dressing room at Ibrox Stadium. Russell Martin unveiled as the new…Photo IMAGO / Shutterstock

Brendan Rodgers: “I think you’re always disappointed when any manager loses his job and Russell being no different. It was a challenge that he’ll learn from in his career. He’s got many more years left as a coach and a manager. I’ve always said, when you manage here at Celtic or (the)Rangers, the pressure really is relentless. You find out things about yourself and this role and this job, and I’m sure he would have done that. I wish him all the best, and he’ll probably have a bit of time out and then look to go again and use this experience.”

Q: You said earlier this morning that a job in the Premier League sometimes can feel like a holiday compared to up here. Is that something underestimated?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, I think it’s something that, especially for people down south and without knowing the level and the intensity and the sheer size of the clubs up here. Especially Celtic and (the)Rangers, they’re huge clubs. I’ve always said that this job here is right up there in terms of pressure. From managing at different clubs in the Premier League at different times, a promoted club, a mid-table club and a top club. Celtic is right up there at the very top in terms of pressure and resilience needed. It is a challenge for every manager, especially coming into Celtic and (the)Rangers. You only hope that you can meet that pressure and deal with that and somehow succeed.”

Q: It looks like Kevin Muscat is going to be appointed at (the)Rangers. He spent most of his career in Asia and Australia. Is he someone you’ve ever come across in your career? Also, when your rivals appoint a new manager, is it a challenge you welcome or do you not pay too much heed to it?

Brendan Rodgers: “I think every team that changes manager, you always accept and take on the challenge of new ideas and that freshness that they may bring. I don’t know Kevin that well, but I came across him a few times when I was at Liverpool. He came in to training when I was manager at Liverpool and I spent some time with him there. Then, of course, when we travelled over to Australia with Liverpool and met him and Ange when I was there. As I said, I don’t know him that well, but he’s done a really good job in the teams that he’s been at in Asia. If he’s to be the new manager coming in, then it’s another new challenge. As I said, for us, we’ll be ready for it.”

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Celtic in the Eighties and Willie Fernie – Putting on the Style both by David Potter. Photo The Celtic Star

Danny McGrain signing copies of Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Photo: Celtic Star Books

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