New details have emerged about the growing breakdown in communication between Brendan Rodgers and Celtic’s hierarchy before his resignation, with The 42 reporting that both Michael Nicholson and Peter Lawwell were “blindsided” by one of the club’s summer signings.
According to the outlet, when Celtic completed the deal for Kelechi Iheanacho, a striker Rodgers had previously managed at Leicester City, both the chief executive and non-executive chairman were caught off guard due to how limited communication with Rodgers had become.
Celtic left the transfer window with no striker brought in to replace Kyogo, while Adam Idah left on deadline day, too.
The revelation follows Dermot Desmond’s explosive statement, in which the club’s largest shareholder admitted there had been a breakdown in dialogue with the former manager and accused him of being “divisive, misleading and self-serving” in his final months at the club.
Desmond’s comments painted a picture of a relationship that had completely deteriorated behind the scenes, and The 42’s report now adds to that narrative, suggesting that even major football decisions were being made without proper alignment between the manager and boardroom.
Celtic signed Iheanacho in the summer and saw a Premier League-proven forward familiar to Rodgers arrive at the club on a one-year deal. But if the report is accurate, the move further underlines the breakdown of internal communication and trust that defined the final stages of the Rodgers era.
The fallout from his departure continues to unfold, with Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney now leading the team on an interim basis as Celtic prepare for a league tie against Falkirk tonight and a crucial League Cup semi-final against Rangers at Hampden Park on Sunday.
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3 responses
Why should Peter Lawwell be blindsided by anything? He’s supposed to be a non-executive Chairman with very limited responsibilities and no role in recruitment – but then again if he’s still controlling and manipulating things and Nicholson is little more than his puppet, then the disconnection between Rodgers and the ‘Board’/Lawwell is no surprise whatsoever.
Not sure about the Lawwell influence but the whole board are defo DDs puppets.
DD is not even a majority shareholder so why does he get to call all the shots as if Celtic is his personal toy?
Whats the point of a CEO who refuses to speak to the support, or even address the media in general, and seems to have no influence in the major decisions at the club.
MON has been away from.management for 6 years and latterly was pretty unsuccessful so whats his qualification to even be interim boss?
Ah yes, nostalgia, and DD likes him!
What a way to run a supposedly modern, ambitious club.
Correction… St Brendan’s shi7e wiznae on any directors hawn.
Even though at times it seemed as so. Brendan wis naebudiez puppit