After 12 days of silence Brendan Rodgers delivered two outstanding interviews on Friday, apparently to preview Celtic’s match at Kilmarnock.
To the surprise of no-one the Ayrshire side were barely mentioned, not even their plastic pitch.
The all in media conference which took Celtic three hours to upload to You Tube has already earned legendary status. While Celtic delivered a horrific statement last Saturday the offering from the manager in front of the cameras on Friday was truly world class, at last Michael Nicholson got something right.
Broadcasters, publishers and fan media were there asking questions, Rodgers shirked nothing although there may be some doubt over his delayed answer of ‘No’ when he was asked if he knew who had been briefing against him to The Sun.
That topic and the answers dominated the aftermath, when a manager uses the word cowardly about someone inside the club it almost blocks out everything else that is said.
As the broadcasters of Sunday’s match Sky Sports get an exclusive interview with Rodgers, it was straight to the heart of the matter from Luke Shanley as the failings of the transfer window were discussed.
Rodgers discussed his relationships with people inside the club with the personal qualities of Dermot Desmond, Michael Nicholson and Chris McKay’s all praised.
No one will have been surprised that the Celtic Chairman wasn’t mentioned.
Rodgers gave expansive answers, tellingly there was one very short answer.
He won’t be around next summer if there is a repeat of the 2025 transfer window being planned (6 minutes 50 seconds), something that Rodgers has already made clear to the club, presumably Nicholson and Desmond.
The comments about the in-house coward has attracted most of the headlines but of more lasting importance is a clear declaration of Rodgers over his future. The glass half empty view is that he is ready to leave, the other option is that if Celtic put in place a proper modern recruitment operation then he is open to extending his second spell with the club.
4 minutes
QUESTION: How did he feel about someone from the club briefing the media about him?
RODGERS: My own feeling is it’s a cowardly action to go that route. I’ve always been open here, I’ve made it very clear my desires for Celtic. I think anyone here at the club will tell you from both my spells, all I ever want is the best for Celtic.
Most players will have gained new contracts, most staff will have improved contracts. I feel that I’ve always wanted to improve and develop and continue that development and not stand still.
I see the potential of the club so for someone to do that, of course, it disappoints but it doesn’t affect me. If anything, I only get an even greater determination to succeed here.
Let’s be clear, if it’s come out to maybe where it’s supposedly come out, then it’s not great. The optics of it aren’t good, but I get on with my work every single day.
I have a duty to be here for my staff, my players. I’ve seen the bits and pieces around me walking and I will never do that. I want to be here. I want the club to succeed.
There may come a time when the club say to me, listen, we’ve both had a really good run and let’s leave it there.
Saturday will be silent on the media front as fans digest the development of Friday, an absolute masterclass from Rodgers as he got his message over with the greatest of clarity.
While the in-house coward runs to The Sun and updates his network of messengers Rodgers has a weekly audience to speak to, up front and looking into the eyes of those asking the questions. Roger Hannah is on annual leave with the big hitters at The Sun avoiding Friday’s Lennoxtown shift.
At Kilmarnock on Sunday Sky Sports and BBC Scotland have pre-match interviews with Rodgers, there is nothing to add to what he delivered on Friday.
Afterwards there will be another all-in media conference as well as words with the match broadcasters, Rodgers will move on with attention on Michael Nicholson and the hunt to find the coward in contact with The Sun.
There is one more issue coming down the line, Celtic are currently sitting on their Annual Report for 2025, trying to find the least damaging moment to announce turnover of around £150m with around £80m sitting in the bank ahead of the summer transfer profits.
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