Brendan Rodgers has called on Michael Nicholson to root out the coward who spoke to The Sun last Saturday, claiming that the Irishman was trying to engineer his exit from the club.
Nothing could be further from the truth as Rodgers again confirmed at Friday’s media conference.
Roger Hannah of The Sun was chosen to smear the Celtic manager ahead of taking a week of annual leave, also missing out on his regular Monday night slot on Radio Clyde’s Super Scoreboard. No one from The Sun attended the media conference.
None of the claims made by ‘a source close to senior figures’ at Celtic stand up from claiming that Rodgers is the only manager to question the strategy and that he has been given millions to spend. Rodgers has generated a profit in transfers.
Ironically the source also accused Rodgers of briefing off the record against the club!
The claims in the Sun were published late on Friday night for the Saturday paper, late on Saturday Celtic came up with a horrific statement that will be used to train future PR students in what not to do.
As ever Michael Nicholson has taken a vow of silence, in four years as CEO he has only once spoken to the media, in June 2023 alongside Rodgers and Peter Lawwell.
Nicholson’s complete lack of leadership and personality has come to the fore over the last couple of weeks, any competent CEO would get in front of the story, addressing issues with an in-house interview. Silent Mike is far from competent.
Having left the issue of the interview in The Sun to fester all week Brendan Rodgers was left to address the matter, he did so masterfully.
17 minutes
QUESTION: How does it feel to see stories from someone at the club talking about you engineering your exit?
Rodgers: It was interesting when I was shown that. My honest take, I thought it was a cowardly action by whoever it is. It’s not something that you would want, and certainly my relationships with the guys that I’m close with here with the board, I’m struggling to understand the why.
Since 2016, all I’ve tried to do is drive the club forward. Was I surprised by it? Not really. I think I was briefed upon the first time I was here, when I left. Now, since I’ve come back. I’m thick-skinned. It’s because I want to do so well here. I’m determined to do so well.
But I know Dermot, Michael, the guys that I work with on a day-to-day basis, or certainly communicate with them on a day-to-day basis. They feel the same as I.
I think if you speak to my staff here, speak to players, they know all I ever do is give everything for them. I respect them. Most of them have got new contracts during their time here. Staff have got new deals and you know, increase their wages and so all the conditions for them.
And okay, my drive is to make Celtic the best it can be. But not unrealistic, not Premier League money. Not you know, millions and millions and millions. So yeah, it’s disappointing. Like I said, it’s a cowardly act. It just makes me more determined to succeed.
QUESTION: Do you know where it came from?
Rodgers: No.
The issue was returned to after 30 minutes as the media conference came to a close.
QUESTION: The person who was talking to the paper. Do you think the club should do an investigation to find out who it is? You called him cowardly. Do you think they should just resign if it’s found out who they are?
Rodgers: I don’t think there’s any doubt. I think if you’re in the position I’m in with the weight of the club on my shoulders, to be the spokesperson, to be the manager, to be the psychologist, to be everything, it’s so important that you feel supported.
Anyone who is briefing against that person when they could come and speak to me anytime. I’m here from early morning to late evening, or come to my house or do whatever.
We all have frustrations at times in our lives, especially at Celtic. I would never, ever think to bring that to the fore to hurt someone else, especially when that someone else is trying to give everything to the club. They actually didn’t have to come back, but wanted to come back because of love for the club.
So yeah, I’m pretty sure there’ll be some questions asked on that. There was quite a bit of detail in there. Wrong, may I add but hopefully we’ll find out.
After the media conference, which finished at 2.45pm Rodgers had a planned meeting with CEO Nicholson.
No one from The Sun attended Friday’s media conference.
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