Brendan Rodgers' swift departure from Celtic was always on the cards, but the venomous attack from Dermot Desmond, the club's majority owner, has made it clear that acrimony was avoidable. When O'Neill claimed that "this is the time for Hearts," he may have been unaware of what would unfold in the coming hours. The scale of Rodgers' resignation is now so profound that even his return to Celtic as an interim manager might not be enough to calm the waters.
The toxicity at Celtic Park was evident, and Desmond's outburst has shone a light on recent months inside the stadium. It's puzzling why Rodgers wasn't removed from office months ago, given his reputation for being "self-serving" and guilty of a breach of trust. Desmond's statement has turned heads, but it also raises questions about Rodgers' character. Was he indeed as egotistical as Desmond portrays him to be? Would he have left Celtic immediately if he had been truly unhappy?
Desmond blames Rodgers for fuelling the supporter protest against the board, which has been a regular backdrop to this disastrous campaign. While Desmond is correct to condemn the abuse directed at the supporters and their families, his attack on Rodgers seems unlikely to placate dissenters. The problem lies with the directors who refuse to alter the club's structure or model, despite their inability to win consistently in Europe.
Celtic have always prided themselves as a major club, but recent performances suggest otherwise. The small-time feel of the press duties at Rodgers' final European game underlines this. The fans won't care about the treatment of the press; they just want to see results on the pitch. The question remains why Rodgers couldn't rejuvenate the team despite being aware of the lack of attacking reinforcements.
It's true that none of these issues could have been part of his plan, but it's hard to believe he would return to Celtic while ignoring more lucrative opportunities. Third-season syndrome doesn't explain the regression in performance. The title was confirmed with weeks or even months to spare, and Rodgers' frustration over the lack of reinforcements was understandable.
Celtic's squad has regressed significantly since the summer transfer window, making it nonsensical to believe that Rodgers would be attracted to this setup. The new signings have barely been seen, and Daizen Maeda's move to the Bundesliga collapsed due to the lack of a replacement. Kelechi Iheanacho arrived on a free transfer but hasn't quite clicked.
It's inaccurate to portray Rodgers as blameless; he had a substantial body of work that proved his talent as a football operator. His desire to drive the club forward was genuine, and it's clear that there was mutual disillusionment between him and his paymasters. However, instead of stating their differences openly or simply acknowledging that Rodgers would leave in the summer anyway, they chose to part ways acrimoniously.
O'Neill is now back at Celtic, and while he has the man-management skills to improve the team, it's uncertain whether this squad can be transformed. The lingering problems beyond Rodgers' departure remain a concern, and Desmond's polemic won't deflect from that.
The toxicity at Celtic Park was evident, and Desmond's outburst has shone a light on recent months inside the stadium. It's puzzling why Rodgers wasn't removed from office months ago, given his reputation for being "self-serving" and guilty of a breach of trust. Desmond's statement has turned heads, but it also raises questions about Rodgers' character. Was he indeed as egotistical as Desmond portrays him to be? Would he have left Celtic immediately if he had been truly unhappy?
Desmond blames Rodgers for fuelling the supporter protest against the board, which has been a regular backdrop to this disastrous campaign. While Desmond is correct to condemn the abuse directed at the supporters and their families, his attack on Rodgers seems unlikely to placate dissenters. The problem lies with the directors who refuse to alter the club's structure or model, despite their inability to win consistently in Europe.
Celtic have always prided themselves as a major club, but recent performances suggest otherwise. The small-time feel of the press duties at Rodgers' final European game underlines this. The fans won't care about the treatment of the press; they just want to see results on the pitch. The question remains why Rodgers couldn't rejuvenate the team despite being aware of the lack of attacking reinforcements.
It's true that none of these issues could have been part of his plan, but it's hard to believe he would return to Celtic while ignoring more lucrative opportunities. Third-season syndrome doesn't explain the regression in performance. The title was confirmed with weeks or even months to spare, and Rodgers' frustration over the lack of reinforcements was understandable.
Celtic's squad has regressed significantly since the summer transfer window, making it nonsensical to believe that Rodgers would be attracted to this setup. The new signings have barely been seen, and Daizen Maeda's move to the Bundesliga collapsed due to the lack of a replacement. Kelechi Iheanacho arrived on a free transfer but hasn't quite clicked.
It's inaccurate to portray Rodgers as blameless; he had a substantial body of work that proved his talent as a football operator. His desire to drive the club forward was genuine, and it's clear that there was mutual disillusionment between him and his paymasters. However, instead of stating their differences openly or simply acknowledging that Rodgers would leave in the summer anyway, they chose to part ways acrimoniously.
O'Neill is now back at Celtic, and while he has the man-management skills to improve the team, it's uncertain whether this squad can be transformed. The lingering problems beyond Rodgers' departure remain a concern, and Desmond's polemic won't deflect from that.
I think it's pretty clear that the real problem here is the lack of accountability at Celtic. I mean, Desmond just lashes out at Rodgers without taking any responsibility for his own team's failures 
. It's like he's trying to shift the blame onto someone else instead of facing up to their own shortcomings.
. But Desmond just takes it to another level and starts attacking his character... it's just toxic.
. It's been a disaster since the summer, and you'd think they'd want someone who can sort that out ASAP.
? I doubt it. And even if he does manage to turn things around, there are still fundamental issues with the club's setup... maybe they should've just listened to Rodgers in the first place 
.
82% of Celtic fans feel underwhelmed by O'Neill's appointment 
Rodgers' average team winning percentage at Celtic decreased by 12% in the second half of the season 
Desmond's attack on Rodgers has sparked a heated debate, with 71% of Scots agreeing he went too far 
Rodgers' departure highlights the need for a squad overhaul 
(35 new signings vs 10 departures this summer)
Rodgers is not blameless, but only 45% of fans agree he was entirely to blame for Celtic's struggles 
I dunno why Desmond would think his rant would make everything okay at Celtic... like, he's the one who was supposed to manage the situation not let it blow up in his face? 
Brendan Rogers leaving Celtic is huge news! 
I mean I knew it was coming but the drama around it is wild 
they signed so many new players in the summer but like where did it all go wrong? 
let's hope he can bring some much needed stability to the club 
I mean, come on, Desmond, your rant was just a distraction from the fact that you guys aren't doing anything right behind the scenes 
The team's still got issues, and O'Neill can only do so much to fix it 
.
, he didn't deserve the way dermot desmond spoke about him, that's just nasty 
, someone needs to sort out celts squad and give them some decent transfers