Brendan Rodgers has departed from Celtic amidst significant criticism from principal shareholder Dermot Desmond.
Rodgers submitted his resignation on Tuesday following a disappointing start to the season for the club. In the interim, Martin O’Neill and former midfielder Shaun Maloney have been appointed to lead the team.
In a statement following Rodgers’ resignation, Desmond acknowledged his contributions during two tenures at the club but expressed deep disappointment over recent events. “Brendan Rodgers has today resigned as manager of Celtic Football Club,” he stated.
“I want to recognize Brendan’s efforts throughout his time with us, which significantly shaped our modern history. However, I must communicate my profound disappointment concerning the developments of the last few months.”
“We welcomed Brendan back to Celtic two years ago with complete faith in his capacity to guide the club into a new era of lasting success. Unfortunately, his behavior and communication in recent months have fallen short of that trust.”
“In June, Michael Nicholson and I expressed our intentions to Brendan regarding a contract extension as a show of our unwavering support. He indicated he needed time to consider it. Yet, he later suggested in press conferences that the club had not committed to any offer, which was simply inaccurate.”
“We consistently met with Brendan to discuss our joint strategy and objectives, including meetings as recently as last December and earlier this summer. Every player acquisition or sale during his tenure received his full knowledge, consent, and endorsement. Any suggestion to the contrary is entirely false.”
“His later remarks regarding transfers and club matters came as a surprise. He never raised any issues with me, Michael, or any board or executive team members before going public. In reality, he had the final say on all football decisions, receiving dedicated backing in recruitment, including significant investments in players he supported.”
“When his comments were made public, I attempted to address them directly. Brendan and I had a lengthy three-hour discussion at his home in Scotland, where he did not present a single instance where the club had hindered or failed to support him. The facts contradicted his narrative.”
“Regrettably, his subsequent words and actions have been divisive, misleading, and self-serving. They have contributed to a negative atmosphere around the club and incited hostility directed at our executive team and board members. Some of the abuse directed at them and their families has been completely unjustified and unacceptable.”
“Each board and executive team member is deeply dedicated to Celtic and acts with professionalism, integrity, and a shared ambition for success. The recent shortcomings were not due to our club structure or model, but rather the actions of one individual prioritizing self-preservation over the collective.”
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“Celtic’s organizational structure—where the manager oversees football operations, the chief executive manages everyday processes, and the board provides overall oversight—has been successful for over two decades. We share a unified goal: to ensure Celtic’s ongoing success domestically and make advancements in Europe. Every pound earned by the club is reinvested towards these ambitions and the continuous improvement of Celtic FC.”
“Celtic is bigger than any individual. Our focus now turns to restoring unity, enhancing the squad, and continuing to develop a club that embodies its values, traditions, and supports its fans.”
Rodgers exits following two successive defeats in the Premiership, leaving Celtic eight points behind Hearts. Celtic also released a statement expressing gratitude for Rodgers’ contributions during his two successful tenures with the club, where he previously achieved two league and cup trebles.
O’Neill returns to the club two decades after leaving for Aston Villa and six years since his last position as head coach.