Video – Sun journalist challenged on ‘Celtic Insider’ story on Superscoreboard | OneFootball

Celtic CEO Michael Nicholson has given a brief and, for many supporters, unsatisfying response to the shocking report earlier this summer alleging that Brendan Rodgers had been deliberately “engineering” his departure and creating unrest within the club….

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

The report, published by sports journalist Roger Hannah in The Scottish Sun and attributed to a supposed “Celtic insider” referencing “senior club figures,” provoked outrage among fans and drew a firm rebuttal from Rodgers at his now infamous first media conference after the transfer window shut, who condemned the anonymous claims as a “cowardly act” and urged the executive behind them to reveal themselves.

The manager called on the club to look into the source of the leak, expressing that he felt let down and believed he deserved greater respect from within Celtic Park.

However, Rodgers announced that the issue was “closed” last month — and the reason for that has since become clear.

Celtic Fans Collective, Founded September 2025.

As outlined by the Celtic Fans Collective, who met with club representatives on Monday evening at Celtic Park to discuss the concerns brought forward in their Open Letter, the topic was brought up directly during talks with Nicholson and CFO Chris McKay — and their account of the exchange was scathing.

Releasing a statement on their socials, Celtic Fans Collective said: “The allegation of a senior Club official briefing against the Manager to The Sun was described as ‘closed’ by Michael Nicholson. The Club was unwilling to divulge much information although claimed a conversation took place between the Board and the Manager. The Club suggested that the allegation was unsubstantiated and did not require further investigation.”

There are now more questions than answers on this matter for supporters. It may well be a ‘closed’ matter to Nicholson, but if the claims were unsubstantiated, as per the CEO’s own words, why did the club not categorically deny the report when it was first released on that Saturday morning more than a month ago?

Surely if such claims were unsubstantiated and inaccurate, the paper in question would never be allowed back in Celtic Park for making up such a ludicrous story?

Peter Lawwell, Brendan Rodgers and Michael Nicholson. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

All it would have taken was a statement signed by the Chairman, CEO and CFO denying all the claims made in the article. But they let it simmer and now are in complete denial.

We also need to hear more about the internal investigation. Who investigated the claims? When investigating, was the case shut when all board members denied their involvement in the article?

This stinks to the high heavens. Rodgers should be asked again to clarify whether he considers this matter as ‘closed’ and if he has come to the conclusion that such claims were unsubstantiated.

Peter Lawwell, Brendan Rodgers and Michael Nicholson (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Meanwhile Hannah has been keeping a low profile in terms of his appearances in Clyde1 Superscoreboard as a panelist but he returned this week and was questioned about the story by a Celtic supporter and asked if he stands by that article now that he has re-emerged.

Here’s the video of this exchange…

When asked if he stood by the article Hannah relied: “Yes. I know the point you’re trying to make. Since the article came out, I think the article came out, September the 5th or 6th, I believe, Brendan spoke afterwards and then I believe the following week he was asked a supplementary question to it and he said, it’s done or it’s closed or something like that.”

Gordon Duncan then asked: “Oh, missed that, did he?”

Hannah replied: “Yeah.”

Duncan followed with this: “So after the cowardly stuff.”

Hannah’s response: “The following Friday, he was asked a question at his press conference, he said the matter was closed or done, I think was the word they used. Now, I’ve only seen the statement that the Celtic Fans Collective put out yesterday with regard to the meeting on Monday with some of the directors. And the Celtic Fans Collective said that when Michael Nicholson, the chief exec, was asked about it on Monday, he also said that the matter was done. I think he used the same word as Brendan.”

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

Asked is someone at the club or even Rodgers himself had contacted him about the story, the Sun man said: “So you know, I write a story at the start of September. We’re now at the start of October. It’s more than a month, about five weeks ago or something, Gordon. I’m assuming, and I stand to be corrected here, Gordon, because I’m only looking at it from the outside.

“I’m assuming that internal conversations have taken place at Celtic between then and now, and what was viewed as an issue then, is now no longer an issue. In my mind, I get the feeling that if there were those tensions at the time, or questions being asked at the time, I get the impression and I’m only going on the answers that have been given by both Brendan Rodgers and Michael Nicholson, that perhaps there have been internal conversations since then and issues have been resolved and doubts have been satisfied, if you like, and what was a situation then is no longer a situation, if you see what I mean, Gordon.”

The show’s host Gordon Duncan followed up by asking: “Would Brendan Rodgers call you up when that story comes out and ask you about it?

“No,” Roger Hannah replied and was then asked by Duncan: “Anyone dispute it?”

“Since the story’s been…? No,” the Sun man said.

“Interesting,” was the last word from Duncan.

Interesting indeed…

Conor Spence

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

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

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