Celtic replace 'divisive' Rodgers with former boss O'Neill

Brendan Rodgers has resigned as Celtic manager - amid accusations from major shareholder Dermot Desmond of "divisive, misleading, and self-serving" behaviour - and will be replaced in the interim by former boss Martin O'Neill.

The Scottish Premiership champions are eight points behind early pacesetters Heart of Midlothian after losing 3-1 at Tynecastle on Sunday.

Celtic have also had an underwhelming European campaign and difficult transfer window.

Despite the discontent, the news that emerged in a club statement at 21:44 GMT was stunning.

The 134-word missive announced Rodgers had quit, thanked him for his contribution across his two spells as manager and said the process to appoint a replacement was under way.

It also said, in a remarkable twist, that O'Neill - 73 years old and 20 years after his first stint ended - would take interim charge, assisted by former Celtic player Shaun Maloney, who was sacked as Wigan Athletic manager in March.

While Celtic fans were digesting that, the club published another statement - this time signed by the usually reticent Desmond.

In an astonishing letter to fans, Desmond challenged Rodgers' assertion that he was not formally offered a contract extension, denied that signings were imposed upon the manager, and criticised his "desire for self-preservation at the expense of others".

Rodgers, 52, began a second spell at Celtic Park in 2023, winning successive titles to go with his league triumphs from 2017 and 2018.

The former Liverpool and Leicester City boss departs with the champions trailing Hearts after nine league games.

The Northern Irishman agreed a three-year deal on his return and stressed he would honour the contract after his departure in February 2019 for Leicester caused so much rancour.

Rodgers said in August that there had been no formal offer to extend the agreement.

But Desmond has now given his side of events, saying the club were keen to keep him beyond the end of this campaign to "reaffirm the club's full backing and long-term commitment to him".

The Irish businessman went on to say that Rodgers' assertion that no offer had been made was "simply untrue".

Rodgers has been approached by the BBC for comment.

This season has played out against a backdrop of anti-board protests at Celtic Park and Desmond went on to suggest Rodgers had contributed to a "toxic atmosphere".

Rodgers has also made several references to underwhelming recruitment throughout the start of the season.

Speaking after the 2-0 loss at Dundee on 19 October, Rodgers said: "There's no way you'll go into a race and be given the keys to a Honda Civic and say 'I want you to drive it like a Ferrari'. It's not going to happen."

But Desmond responded with: "Every player signed and every player sold during his tenure was done so with Brendan's full knowledge, approval, and endorsement. Any insinuation otherwise is absolutely false.

"His later public statements about transfers and club operations came entirely out of the blue. At no point prior to those remarks had he raised any such concerns.

"In reality, he was given final say over all football matters and was consistently backed in the recruitment process, including record investment in players he personally identified and approved.

"Regrettably, his words and actions since then have been divisive, misleading, and self-serving. They have contributed to a toxic atmosphere around the club and fuelled hostility towards members of the executive team and the board.

"What has failed recently was not due to our structure or model, but to one individual's desire for self-preservation at the expense of others."

O'Neill managed Celtic from 2000-05, winning three Scottish Premier League titles, three Scottish Cups, and a League Cup. He also took them to a Uefa Cup final.

However, he has not managed a club since being sacked by Nottingham Forest in June 2019.

Coincidentally, the former Republic of Ireland manager was on TalkSport earlier on Monday talking about the Scottish title race - and his belief that Hearts could become the first non-Old Firm side to win it since 1985.

"Hearts have shown a great determination. Their record is great, at this minute," O'Neill said. "With Celtic not being as strong as maybe you would want them to be, it is possible.

"Celtic can actually lose games now, whereas before, they looked invincible in matches. Rangers are no threat whatsoever. They are so far adrift it's untrue.

"This is the moment - this is the time for Hearts. They have gone eight points clear. That is a decent enough lead, really. Their confidence has grown, and it will grow from that victory."

O'Neill will be joined by Maloney, who had two spells as a player with Celtic, was part of Belgium's coaching staff after retiring.

The Scotland international took on his first job with Hibs in 2021 but lasted just four months.

He took charge of Wigan Athletic in January 2023 but was dismissed in March this year, having won 42 of his 115 games and returned to Celtic in June as professional player pathway manager.