Hugh Keevins has hit out at Celtic’s summer transfer dealings, claiming the board have not given Brendan Rodgers the backing he needs before a vital Champions League qualifier.

With less than a year left on Rodgers’ deal, Keevins says the situation is similar to his first spell at the club, but this time the blame sits firmly with those in the boardroom.

Back in 2019, Rodgers quit midway through the season for Leicester City, a decision that angered many supporters. Keevins now believes the manager is being left in a no-win situation, with little done to strengthen the squad before big European matches.

The experienced broadcaster says Celtic’s slow approach in the transfer window has left the team exposed, highlighting clear problems in both attack and defence that have yet to be addressed as the season reaches a key point.

He said: (Clyde 1 Superscoreboard), “I said in my Sunday newspaper column at the weekend that when Brendan Rodgers left Celtic in 2019, the fans put up a banner saying, ‘You traded immortality for mediocrity.’

“Well, my suggestion now is that Celtic are asking Brendan Rodgers to achieve immortality with mediocrity. Idah is not up to the task. Yang will never be up to the task.

“They are going for a playoff round in the Champions League, and they have signed no one to play up front beside Maeda, who’s the only one up there of any substance.

“They still persevere with Liam Scales. Now, he’s been an honest pro for Celtic, but in terms of the Champions League, Liam Scales, you have to have better. And Trusty is clearly not to Brendan Rodgers’ liking.

“I think, as things stand at the moment, the board are letting down Brendan Rodgers with this gamble. They are clearly prepared to take a two-leg playoff for entry to the Champions League with no new signings.”

Keevins’ comments follow a summer where Celtic have been slow to bring in new players, with no signings made to strengthen the attack despite losing several forwards.

Soccer Football – Scottish Premiership – Celtic v St Mirren – Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain – May 17, 2025 Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers reacts before the match REUTERS/Scott Heppell

The upcoming Champions League playoff is a major chance for the club both financially and on the pitch, but the lack of signings has led to fears of another European setback.

Rodgers, who came back to Celtic in the summer of 2023, has often stressed the need for quality over quantity in transfers, yet key areas of the squad still look weak.

Keevins’ warning is straightforward: if the board don’t move quickly, they could damage their manager’s chances of achieving success at the top level.

4 COMMENTS

  1. The entire Board should be kicked out, they are profit-fixated pariahs who have no ambition for the club.

  3. I hate to agree with Keevins & I do think he’s overly harsh on Scales, Idah, Yang and Trusty. I think all are good squad players. But the gist of what he says is true. The real mediocrity is at board level. Time for many of them to be moved on.

  4. This is completely unforgiveable and an act of sabotage by this manically risk averse lot upstairs.I can’t be doing with these transfer windows now,they just depress the hell out me.This could actually pivot quicker than we think if sevco qualify and we don’t.A massive gamble by the board(yet again) for the manager to make a silk purse from a sows ear.

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