How irretrievable breakdown led to savage separation for Rodgers & Celtic

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In a lengthy 551-word statement, major shareholder Desmond launched a scathing attack on his former friend.

The individual whom he convinced to become a member of the club back when Rangers were becoming increasingly arrogant in 2016 and required some correction. He was also the same person Desmond turned to once more after Ange Postecoglou departed for Tottenham in the summer of 2023.

The severity of Desmond's criticism overshadowed what was previously an astonishing return for Martin O'Neill.

Two decades after leaving the club, and following a significant period during which he engaged in numerous public speaking appearances and revisited his former successes with Celtic, O'Neill is making a comeback to coaching.

For the time being - and perhaps for an extended period. Given his recent comments, O'Neill has expressed a desire for another managerial position. He views this opportunity as a divine blessing from the Celtic deities, a return to the venue where he achieved such remarkable success and acclaim.

Will he relinquish this chance easily? It seems unlikely. Celtic may reach out to gauge Postecoglou’s interest, but for now, O'Neill will serve as a soothing presence.

'A vigorous attempt at character assassination'

O'Neill's return - as bizarre as it may seem - can be set aside because the most striking moment was the harsh manner in which Desmond criticized Rodgers.

It was an unrestrained effort at character defamation, depicting Rodgers as untrustworthy, a fabricator of falsehoods, and a spreader of misinformation; divisive, misleading, and intolerable. "One individual's desire for self-preservation at the expense of others," Desmond remarked.

For someone who usually upholds a sense of propriety and values conducting business with discretion, if not outright secrecy, this highlighted the unusual circumstances at Celtic.

Desmond, the club's most influential figure, operates from behind the scenes. The detached symbol, empowered to make significant decisions without needing to justify them publicly.

He opts not to attend club annual general meetings, delegating that responsibility to his son, Ross. He seldom, if ever, grants interviews regarding Celtic unless they are overly flattering. Even then, he is slow to respond.

On occasion, he has been known to defend the club via private messages to media outlets, but nothing is expressed in the public sphere.

This has been exactly how he prefers matters to unfold. Yet, his decision to launch a full-frontal assault on Rodgers on Monday contradicts this approach.

The official narrative from the club states that Rodgers resigned, but upon examining Desmond’s harsh remarks, one must question why things were allowed to deteriorate to this extent.

If Rodgers is indeed responsible for all the accusations Desmond has leveled against him, it raises a valid point: why was he not dismissed?

Desmond has charged him with presenting a public image that didn’t align with the truth.

He claims that Rodgers' statements "have fostered a toxic environment surrounding the club and intensified animosity directed at the executive team and the board members. Some of the hostility aimed at them, as well as their families, has been completely unjustified and intolerable."

That is an astonishing accusation. Legal representatives might already be gearing up for action.

'Rodgers' aspirations conflicted with Celtic's framework once more'

To recall more joyful times, Dermot and Brendan were quite close. Rodgers praised Desmond at every opportunity, expressing his gratitude whenever possible. Brendan would defer to Dermot and truly, to no one else.

When Rodgers came back after Postecoglou's era, it was Desmond who faced the backlash.

This appointment was one of the most contentious, regarded by some as the triumphant return of the prodigal son, while other Celtic supporters viewed it as the return of the ungrateful one who abandoned them for Leicester.

Desmond supported Rodgers throughout. Gradually, Rodgers charmed the fans, achieved victories, and brought home trophies, leading to a shaky peace evolving back into affection with the supporters.

Yet, there was always going to be a point where Rodgers' aspirations would collide with Celtic's financial model.

This happened during his initial tenure and has recurred dramatically over the last year. Rodgers candidly criticized Celtic's sluggish approach to transfer dealings, the endless delays in securing targets, and the frequent failures to sign those targets, which he believed were all too common.

Repeatedly, he emphasized the necessity for what he termed "agility" in the transfer market. The fans concurred with him.

Even when the club invested record sums in a single year, including £11m on Arne Engels, £9m on Adam Idah, and £6m on Auston Trusty—none of whom have made a significant impact thus far, with Idah already moved on—Rodgers continued to advocate for additional signings, often making these requests public.

He dropped bombs regarding a lack of unity within the club and then distanced himself. At his subsequent press conferences, he typically downplayed his remarks, frequently contradicting his earlier statements.

A lack of unity? No, he would insist, insisting that all parties were in agreement. It appeared as though Rodgers was engaging in a perilous strategy.

Several months ago, a report surfaced in a newspaper, allegedly from a source connected to the club. It claimed that Rodgers was undermining Celtic with his public comments and that his true intent was to devise an exit strategy.

The implication was that he no longer wished to be there and was engineering his departure, which was the tone conveyed by the piece.

The supporters were furious. They began to view him as a kind of martyr, possibly destined to leave with honor because his directors were unwilling to support his vision for achieving success.

The leak, naturally, was toxic and intended to harm Rodgers, which it succeeded in doing. He demanded an inquiry and the dismissal of the individual responsible. However, if there was any investigation, we have not received further information regarding it.

At that moment, it was clear that Rodgers was losing favor with those in higher positions.

The usual complaints regarding player transfers were compounded by a shaky start to the season. A disappointing exit from the Champions League, uninspiring performances in domestic matches, and a palpable sense of decline permeated the environment.

Accountability shifted. Following Celtic's defeat to Dundee a few weeks prior, he remarked: "You can't be handed the keys to a Honda Civic and drive it like a Ferrari."

Had Rodgers made that statement post a significant Champions League defeat, it would have stirred controversy, but to say it after falling to Dundee - a team that operated with a fraction of Celtic's budget - was deeply embarrassing. He later reaffirmed this position.

The supporters, growing tired of justifications, were not convinced, yet if it was a conflict between Rodgers and the Celtic upper management, fans still viewed Rodgers as the clear victor.

Desmond remained silent as usual, but his professional background indicates he does not tolerate insubordination from his staff. With each remark from Rodgers, Desmond’s patience would likely have begun to wane.

On Monday, following a loss to Hearts that left Celtic eight points adrift of Derek McInnes' squad, the culmination arrived. Desmond opened his laptop. With sudden, relentless vigor, he expressed his thoughts freely.

Certainly, some aspects of Rodgers’ actions and statements were self-serving. He hinted that there were signings made without his full agreement, a claim Desmond firmly disputes.

Just a day prior, he asserted he had never been more determined to resolve existing issues than he was at that moment, but the trust had clearly eroded in both directions.

Ending their association seems to be the most prudent choice. This was a situation beyond repair. Distasteful and humiliating.

Rodgers, however, raised valid concerns, and while supporters had begun to turn against him after recent performances, they still rallied behind him in various respects.

Some may now view him as a victim, a scapegoat, a figure brave enough to address the challenges facing the club, only to be ousted for doing so – muted and shamed by Desmond.

This perspective has its merits, but it must be acknowledged that both parties played a role in this separation.

Through his harsh comments, Desmond has turned it into a bitter split. Rodgers' response will come in time, but his tenure has concluded. There is no chance of a return or proper farewell. It's a sorrowful yet inevitable ending.