BBC pundit Michael Stewart has voiced his surprise and concern over Celtic’s board’s apparent lack of support for manager Brendan Rodgers.

Following a series of underwhelming performances, including a 1-1 draw against Kilmarnock on Saturday which saw Celtic drop to second place, Stewart has called the situation “astonishing.”

He highlighted the discrepancy between the expectations set upon Rodgers’ return to Celtic and the actual backing he has received from the club’s board.

Brendan Rodgers is said to be earning a Premier League wage, the highest ever paid at Celtic, yet he doesn’t seem to have the club’s full backing in the transfer market.

Speaking on the Scottish football podcast, Stewart emphasised the necessity of retaining Rodgers regardless of this season’s outcome. He argued that Celtic should continue with Rodgers as their manager into the next season and beyond, hailing him as a top manager and stressing the importance of providing him with the proper support to rebuild and strengthen the team.

“Regardless of whether they win the league or not, for me, they keep Brendan Rodgers.

“The big problem for me, even so much is when we look at Brendan Rodgers now, and he does look like a pale imitation of what we saw before, he’s a top manager, right?

“And the thing that surprises me so much and we all assumed that to get Brendan back in it was that because they were going to back him heavily. It’s been so far the other way that I find it astonishing. So even if they don’t win the league, I still think next summer they have to go and do the same thing and back him properly.”