The Etims podcast came up with a very interesting take on the resignation of Brendan Rodgers.
It is almost a fortnight on since the dramatic Monday night announcement that ended the Irishman’s second spell in charge of Celtic.
WHIRLWIND NEWS
There has been non-stop news and speculation since it was announced that Rodgers had resigned. He was joined by four of the first team coaches leaving with Gavin Strachan staying on as the continuity coach.
An explosive statement from Dermot Desmond almost over shadowed the resignation of Rodgers. That was probably the intention of the statement but Celtic fans were amazed by the words on the club website.
Martin O’Neill was back at the club, Shaun Maloney took over on the training ground with Stephen McManus promoted and Mark Fotheringham coming in from the cold.
The speculation has barely stopped. Four matches played including a semi-final victory and sobering Europa League defeat.
There is still no sign of a new manager, there has been no update on the Celtic website. CEO Michael Nicholson remains on mute.
A TELL TALE WEEK
The next match is away to St Mirren on November 22, the day after the AGM.
Nothing has yet been heard from Rodgers but the Etims podcast got to the nitty gritty of what forced the issue.
Etims is probably the longest running Celtic website. It has been about for almost as long as Midtjylland!
Their podcast always makes for an interesting listen. They don’t chase headlines with OTT opinion but over the years they’ve shared a fairly accurate reading of events inside Celtic Park.
10 minutes:
HECTOR:
Rogers called the meeting. So just just there’s a wee bit that’s been released to a couple of the the hacks that are fairly close to it.
So Rogers did call the meeting to say, ‘Look, we need to get this together and work in unity for the rest of the season or I’ve got to go, I’m not the manager to stay.’
And by all accounts, it was mainly McKay and the Invisible Man. Who’s your chief executive again?
MONTY: What’s his name? I don’t know, man. I didn’t think we had one. Have we got one? Nicholson? Terry Cassidy?
HECTOR:
Terry Cassidy, and that was that was the worst bit.
What happened then? And this is the bit that I think you mentioned, Desmond coming in. It became chaotic to the point where it became a slagging match in the meeting itself, John Kennedy was there alongside Brendan Rogers and it became a shouting, swearing match with Rogers getting stuck in to Nicholson and McKay by all accounts.
Lots of f-words, lots of expletives. Apparently it went mental. So I think your point about Desmond just throwing that (the statement) in so quickly, I rate it. It all adds up as to what happened.
So he (Rodgers) has obviously went ‘well back me or sack me’. (the reply?) I’ll accept your resignation. (Rodgers) back me or I’m going (the reply) I’ll accept your resignation.
What I also think happened is if he’s resigned he’s not signed an NDA. So he’s picking his moment and he’s we all know he’s many things but one thing he’s no stupid I think he’s just waited till the dust settles down for us that would be after the Kilmarnock game on Sunday. It’s a two week break for internationals and I think we’ll see during that quiet period he might come back with some sort of rebuttal or whatever.
With the points safely collected against Kilmarnock today the next 12 days will reveal a lot about Celtic.
If Desmond’s statement is accurate the club was on the verge of chaos, meltdown. In those circumstances surely other options were bring looked at.
If O’Neill remains in charge for the match away to St Mirren on November 21 it will be an executive failure. The veteran is happy to do his bit but it shouldn’t be more than a four match sticking plaster.
DESMOND DECIDES
While the club has a Board and a Chief Executive Officer the reality is that the next manager will be appointed by Desmond. That is the lesson of history, going back to O’Neill’s appointment in 2000 when Gus Hiddink was expected.
Kieran McKenna is the current manager most likely to be in Desmond’s thoughts but the Ipswich boss would come with expectations.
Celtic’s recruitment is a disaster area. It might produce profits and Corporation Tax payments to HMRC but the squad is thin on quality, thick on quantity and badly lacking in key areas.
It would be an incredible leap of faith to expect Paul Tisdale to resolve those issues over the next two transfer windows.
A PROGRESSIVE COACH?
Whether it is McKenna, Kjetil Knutsen (Bodo Glimt) or Nicky Hayen (Club Brugge) there will be an expectation of a structure and strategy.
None of those managers/coaches will tolerate a recruitment process that requires the CEO to email board members before completing transfer deals.
A working Academy will be another expectation that will have Nicholson shrugging his shoulders and pulling faces.
Getting rid of the ‘toxic’ Rodgers may have cleared a problem but the solution is less obvious.
If Rodgers issues a statement through the League Managers Association it will add a further layer of complications.
In any case whoever is approached by Celtic is bound to sound out the former manager for a run down on the realities of the job.
And if the Etims podcast is accurate it will take a very self confident and assured manager to cast aside the warnings from Rodgers to put their managerial prospects in the hands of Nicholson and his unique recruitment set-up. The AGM and dug-out away to St Mirren will be telling.
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