“The Facts Did Not Match His Public Narrative” – Dermot Desmond Scathing Rodgers Statement
Dermot Desmond says that former Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers’ comments have ‘contributed to a toxic atmosphere’ around Celtic amid the Northern Irishman’s resignation. The Hoops minority shareholder released a statement to Celtic supporter’s after the shock announcement in the wake of Celtic’s 3-1 defeat yesterday away to Hearts. A breakdown in relationship between Rodgers and the boardroom has led to a number of fan protests this season, but Desmond has appeared to reserve the blame for the outgoing manager. The full statement reads: “I want to acknowledge Brendan’s contribution across his two spells as Manager, during which he helped deliver success that forms part of the club’s modern history. However, I must also express my deep disappointment at the way the past several months have unfolded. “When we brought Brendan back to Celtic two years ago, it was done with complete trust and belief in his ability to lead the club into a new era of sustained success. Unfortunately, his conduct and communication in recent months have not reflected that trust. “In June, both Michael Nicholson and I expressed to Brendan that we were keen to offer him a contract extension, to reaffirm the club’s full backing and long-term commitment to him. He said he would need to think about it and revert. Yet in subsequent press conferences, Brendan implied that the club had made no commitment to offer him a contract. That was simply untrue. “We met with Brendan regularly, including in December last year and at the start of the summer, with regular dialogue in between, to discuss and agree our collective strategy, priorities, and approach. Every player signed and every player sold during his tenure was done so with Brendan’s full knowledge, approval, and endorsement. Any insinuation otherwise is absolutely false. “His later public statements about transfers and club operations came entirely out of the blue. At no point prior to those remarks had he raised any such concerns with me, Michael, or any member of the Board or executive team. In reality, he was given final say over all football matters and was consistently backed in the recruitment process — including record investment in players he personally identified and approved. “When his comments were made publicly, I sought to address them directly. Brendan and I met for over three hours at his home in Scotland to discuss the issue. Despite ample opportunity, he was unable to identify a single instance where the club had obstructed or failed to support him. The facts did not match his public narrative. “Regrettably, his words and actions since then have been divisive, misleading, and self-serving. They have contributed to a toxic atmosphere around the club and fuelled hostility towards members of the executive team and the Board. Some of the abuse directed at them, and at their families, has been entirely unwarranted and unacceptable. “Every member of the Board and executive team is deeply passionate about Celtic and acts at all times with professionalism, integrity, and a shared desire for success. What has failed recently was not due to our structure or model, but to one individual’s desire for self-preservation at the expense of others. “Celtic’s structure — where the manager oversees football, the Chief Executive manages operations, and the Board provides oversight — has served the club with great success for more than two decades. We all share the same ambition: to ensure Celtic’s continued success domestically and to achieve further progress in Europe. Every pound generated by the club is reinvested towards those goals and the continuous improvement of Celtic Football Club. “Celtic is greater than any one person. Our focus now is on restoring harmony, strengthening the squad, and continuing to build a club worthy of its values, traditions, and supporters.” Rodgers will be temporarily replaced by former Celtic gaffer Martin O’Neill and former player Shaun Maloney as the hunt for a replacement gets underway.
Brendan Rodgers Resigns As Celtic Manager
Brendan Rodgers has resigned from his position as Celtic manager. The Northern Irishman leaves under a cloud despite winning four trophies in a second spell, with a rocky relationship with the club’s hierarchy being well documented. A club statement said: “Celtic Football Club can confirm that football manager Brendan Rodgers has today tendered his resignation. It has been accepted by the Club and Brendan will leave his role with immediate effect. “The Club appreciates Brendan’s contribution to Celtic during his two very successful periods at the Club. “Brendan leaves Celtic with our thanks for the role he has played during a period of continued success for the Club and we wish him further success in the future. “The process to appoint a new permanent manager is underway and the Club will update supporters further on this as soon as possible. “We are pleased that during this interim period former Celtic manager, Martin O’Neill and former Celtic player, Shaun Maloney have agreed to take charge of Celtic first-team matters. Further details will be confirmed shortly.” Celtic host Falkirk on Wednesday night, before facing Rangers at Hampden in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final on Sunday.
“The Players Always Have To Take Responsibility” – Callum McGregor
Celtic captain Callum McGregor says him and his teammates have to take accountability for Celtic’s poor start to the Premiership season. The defending champions fell eight points behind Hearts yesterday, after the league leaders beat them 3-1 at Tynecastle. And McGregor knows that the only way to claw at this gap is if the playing staff performing. “I said it last week, but we are too easy to play against” the 32 year-old said after the loss. “The players always have to take responsibility, I’ve been saying it since day one. “Even with the distraction of the board, and the signings, and everything else, I’ve been the one saying ‘no’, the players have to take responsibility. The only guys that can fix it is the guys on the pitch.” The former Scotland international believes that that the squad is capable of turning things around, but need to show their quality more regularly. “I think they [the players] understand the situation that we are in, of course we are, but we have to turn that into action on the pitch. “I see it on Thursday night, we were excellent, but we have to back it up three days later, and then another three days later we’ve got to do the same. “So that’s where we are. We’re showing flashes, but not on a consistent enough basis.” McGregor, who scored Celtic’s goal on Sunday, dismissed the idea that uproar of a lack of transfer activity could be negatively impacting the current crop of players. “Being at a big club like Celtic, there’s always speculation of who’s coming in. Even the guys who did well last year, you’ve got to keep doing well, the guys who maybe didn’t do so well, you’ve got to up your level. “There’s always a clamour to sign players at big clubs, and then it’s up to the players to react to that. Hopefully overtime, you push each other to new levels.” The Celtic academy product was quick to defend fellow graduates Colby Donovan and Dane Murray, who both made starts due to injured absentees. Murray scored an own goal, and gave away the penalty for Hearts’ third. “The young boys are exempt in this because they need help as well. So when young guys get chucked into the team, it’s the responsibility of the other players to protect them, because they need time to develop, time to get better, they need time to make mistakes. “I’ve been there as a young player when I’ve made mistakes. You need your senior players around you to pick you back up, and they need time to learn and develop into what could be really good Celtic players.” The midfielder recognised Hearts at title challengers, as the maroon side aim to break a 40 year duopoly on the league from the Glasgow big two. “We have to beat everyone if we’re going to win the league. “Yes they [Hearts] were good today, they’re eight points clear of us and now we are the team that are chasing, so if they are the guys at the top then of course we have to try and chase them.” Celtic now turn their attention to Falkirk at Celtic Park on Wednesday night, before a blockbuster Premier Sports Cup semi-final on Sunday against rangers at Hampden.
“There is No Pressure” – Alexandros Kyziridis
Hearts’ Alexandros Kyziridis insists him and his teammates are taking things a game at a time, as the Jambos extended their lead on Celtic to eight points yesterday. The Greek winger netted his side’s second in a 3-1 win over the defending champions, with a Dane Murray own goal and a Lawrence Shankland penalty also helping the Edinburgh side on their way. But Kyziridis was keen to play down any title talk just yet. “[I feel] amazing. Lots of feelings, but just for today. Tomorrow we need to be focused on our Wednesday game” he said post match. “I don’t want to talk about that [title bid], it was just a game. So many games are left, so we just need to be focussed on every game, game by game.” The summer recruit’s fifth goal of the season comes days after him and his wife introduced their newborn son to the world. “By far the best week of my life. It [preparation] was hard for me, but I will need to get used to it. “I sleep well, thanks to my wife! She looks for him, while I sleep, so I sleep well, thanks to her.” Impressive strikes from outside the box are becoming a calling card for 25 year-old, but he believes this group of players won’t be getting carried away with their fine start just yet. “There is no pressure. We are enjoying it and we have to continue like this. “For us, it’s important to see it game by game. We don’t want to see what happens in the future, no one knows. We just need to be humble and do our job, and this is what I will do.” Kyziridis is yet to be capped for the Greece national side, but the Hearts fan-favourite is eager to change this. “It’s one of my targets, for sure. “It’s a honour to play for your national team, I’m waiting and if they need me, I will be there, and I know that we play against Scotland!” Hearts travel to St. Mirren on Wednesday as they hope to maintain their unbeaten start to the league season, with the Paisley side the only team to defeat them domestically this campaign when they dumped them from the Premier Sports Cup in August.
Aberdeen Appoint New Sporting Director
Lutz Pfannenstiel will join Aberdeen as sporting director, and the German is looking forward to joining a club with “true footballing soul”. The 52-year-old German will officially arrive at Pittodrie on November 10th and brings a wealth of experience. After aiding Fortuna Düsseldorf (as Sporting Director) to an impressive 10th-place finish in the Bundesliga, he spent five years in the same role for MLS club St Louis City. He enjoyed similar success for the MLS side, where he was instrumental in founding the youth academy and saw the team win the Western Conference in 2023. Pfannenstiel’s appointment comes at a critical moment for the side, with manager Jimmy Thelin under pressure. The Dons sit 11th in the Scottish Premiership table, having secured two victories in their opening nine league matches. Aberdeen Chairman Dave Cormack expressed high hopes for the new hire, citing Pfannenstiel’s technical knowledge and vast network as key factors in the selection process. “His technical knowledge, academy development experience and global recruitment network were key factors in the board selecting him for this critical role.” Pfannenstiel brings not only extensive professional expertise but also one of the most colourful backstories in football. His dramatic life includes a stint in a Singapore jail, where he spent 101 days on match-fixing accusations before being released for lack of evidence. Aberdeen return to Scottish Premiership action on Wednesday evening against Kilmarnock, before travelling to Cyprus to Face Larnaca in the Conference League eight days later.
