Former Celtic coach Darren O’Dea has claimed that Brendan Rodgers was never truly settled during his second spell at the club, despite public assurances that he would see out his contract.
Rodgers’ sudden departure in October sent shockwaves through Celtic, particularly as it came just eight months before the end of his deal.
Only weeks earlier, the manager had given every indication that he intended to stay, with the club hierarchy also stressing their desire for continuity.
Club majority shareholder Dermot Desmond had, after Rodgers left, revealed that discussions had taken place over extending Rodgers’ contract. In June, Desmond said both he and chief executive Michael Nicholson were keen to offer an extension in order to reaffirm the club’s long-term commitment to the manager.
However, speaking on Open Goal, O’Dea painted a very different picture when asked whether Rodgers was “settled” at Celtic during that period.
“No,” O’Dea said bluntly, before expanding on his understanding of the situation. He suggested Rodgers was more likely planning to leave at the end of the season, when his contract was due to expire, rather than commit to another long-term spell.
“My understanding was he probably would have left at the end of the season,” O’Dea explained. “That would have been the end of his contract, obviously with the way he previously left the club. I think he certainly wanted to honour his contract. But I think too, a lot has obviously happened and it’s culminated in Dermot Desmond having enough.
“I think Brendan went in and offered his resignation. No one really has an idea what exactly happened because he didn’t get sacked, he left.”
The comments add further intrigue to an already murky episode. Rodgers’ exit, officially framed as a resignation rather than a dismissal, left the club scrambling and triggered a chain of events that plunged the season into chaos.
With hindsight, O’Dea’s remarks suggest what we all thought, that the relationship may have been fraying long before October, despite the calm public messaging coming out of Celtic Park.
Amateurs trying to control a professional
Rodgers was looking for the escape door from January last year. He’s always had his eye on a fat pay packet above all else. When will Hoops fans wake up to the fact that he was a charlatan.