BELE BID KO
Scotland need a boss who’s good tactically, knows Scottish players and knows the Scottish game
BRENDAN RODGERS last night insisted Moussa Dembele is not for sale after kicking out a bid for the Hoops hitman.
The Celtic boss revealed the club has turned down a concrete
BRENDAN RODGERS reckons the under-fire SFA should be banging on Neil Lennon’s door and begging him to become Scotland boss.
The Celtic gaffer watched fellow Northern Irishman Michael O’Neill turn his back on the chance to lead the Tartan Army but is convinced another managerial compatriot would be the ideal man to lift the nation out of the doldrums.
Rodgers will square up to Lennon in the opposite dugout when Hibs arrive at Parkhead tomorrow.
And the Celtic boss is convinced the next Scotland manager is staring the SFA in the face.
As far as he is concerned Lennon ticks every single box needed for the role as a former Parkhead manager who has bossed down south and knows the scene inside out.
It’s a no brainer and when asked if the SFA should be beating a path to Easter Road, Rodgers said: “Absolutely. 100 percent.
“They should at least ring him to see if he’s interested because I’m sure that could be a great fit.
“He’s tactically good. He’ll have worked with a lot of the players. He knows the game up here having also had a stint down south as well. “He has a really good football brain. So, yeah, they should be certainly seeing if he’s interested in the job. “There is absolutely no question for me.
“There has been a number of guys who have been touted for the job. “But for me Lenny has to be one. “They certainly have to ask the question because he would be a huge success at it.”
Rodgers has been observing the Scotland manager search with interest – especially with O’Neill at one stage looking like a shoo-in for the gig.
The Celtic gaffer is torn between his home nation and his affinity for an adopted country which shares a huge chunk of his Parkhead squad.
He talked up O’Neill for Scotland in the past but can understand why his fellow Ulsterman has opted to remain with Northern Ireland.
It would have taken something really special on the table from the SFA once their Northern Irish counterparts upped the stakes with a new bumper six-year deal.
Rodgers said: “From the outside I always thought it was a very good job but only because of the players.
“I don’t know the day-to-day life of what it would involve or what the scope is to develop.
“I don’t know salary, length of contract, so there are many reasons why. But it would naturally have needed to be a big pull for Michael to have taken him out of his international team job where he has done so well.
“He has been offered a six-year contract and I am sure on better terms.
“It was going to have to be something very worthwhile.
“If it was the same salary on less years or less salary, well, they’re in the hunt still.”
Scotland might be sore after getting the big KB and are back to square one.
But Rodgers reckons it’s still a decent gig for someone to take on, whether it’s Lennon or not.
He said: “The Scotland job is still attractive. There is a challenge here which is a great test to try to get this team to the European Championships or a World Cup.
“There is a great chance. I have always felt there is a superb group of players here.”
Rodgers will have most of them available tomorrow against his top pick for the Scotland job.
Lennon’s Hibs have given Celtic as tricky a time as any side this season with 2-2 draws at Parkhead and Easter Road in the Premiership and a hard-fought Betfred Cup semi-final that the Hoops won 4-2.
Rodgers said: “They have always been tough.
“The games have tended to come on the back of busy schedules for us but they played well at Celtic Park.
“We were ahead in the match but they showed good spirit to get in front and we had to fight to earn a draw that day.
“The League Cup semi-final was a good game.
“I felt the last result at Easter Road wasn’t a true reflection in the game as we were really dominant for 75 minutes without having many chances against us.
“We took our foot off the gas a wee bit.
“It ended up 2-2 but I think Lenny said afterwards he wasn’t so happy with the performance.
“However, they’re always tough games.
“Hibs are a good side and are competitive with good talent.”
Rodgers reckons his men are in good shape following their return from the winter break.
Brechin were swatted aside without much fuss and three points were picked up on their return to Premiership business at Firhill on Tuesday.
Partick Thistle proved to be much harder work after Celtic fell behind but Rodgers enjoyed seeing his side rise to the challenge and produce a dominant performance after the interval.
He said: “The reaction in the second half was very good.
“We had to change the shape of the team, took a greater risk by taking off a defender.
“Then once we got the lead we shored it up and played well in the second half.
“As I said at the time and reflecting on it afterwards they are all tough games.
“We always have to be at our very best to get results.”
They should at least ring Lenny to see if he is interested. That would be a great fit BRENDAN RODGERS