Brian Dempsey has come out swinging in defence of Brendan Rodgers after the Celtic manager was targeted in a damaging media briefing last weekend.
The man who played a pivotal role in saving Celtic FC during the 1990s collapse branded it “reprehensible” that a story could be planted to discredit Rodgers. The briefing, carried in The Sun, painted the Irishman as a divisive figure inside the club – a move Rodgers himself later called a “cowardly act.”
Dempsey told Hugh Keevins in his RecordSport column:
“I would find it reprehensible that a story could be planted to discredit him. He should have demanded a showdown with his employers and asked them face-to-face what was going on. Brendan has been an integral part of Celtic’s success in recent years and deserved better treatment on a personal level.”
The comments land at a critical time. Celtic supporters have mobilised against the current hierarchy following a disastrous transfer window and a Champions League exit, with a mass protest planned at Rugby Park on Sunday. Dempsey’s words serve as a stark reminder that Rodgers has become the public face of a crisis created by those above him.
The smear briefing has only deepened the sense of division between the boardroom and the terraces. Rodgers has refused to shirk responsibility on the pitch, but Dempsey insists the club’s leadership must be accountable for their actions off it.
By standing up for Rodgers, Dempsey draws a clear parallel with Celtic’s past failings. Back in 1994, when the club teetered on the brink, it was the supporters and a handful of figures like Dempsey who fought to restore integrity and ambition. His defence of Rodgers is not just about one man, but about Celtic avoiding the same toxic mistakes of the past.
The coming weeks will show whether the board can repair the damage – or whether history is set to repeat itself.
