Gaffer’s deal’s got Forrest feeling good

BRENDAN RODGERS’ new deal as Celtic boss has kept the feelgood factor going at Parkhead, according to James Forrest.

The Northern Irishman arrived in Glasgow on a one-year rolling contract last summer but on Friday, less than a week after clinching the club’s sixth successive Ladbrokes Premiership title, he signed a new deal which keeps him at Parkhead until 2021.

Forrest, who scored with a header for the first time in his career to make it 3-1 against Kilmarnock, believes the decision by the former Swansea and Liverpool boss to commit to the club for four more years has given everyone a boost.

Rodgers and his players took the acclaim of the supporters after the game and he symbolically raised both hands as they chanted for a record-breaking 10 in a row, although afterwards he joked he was simply “stretching his fingers”.

There is, however, no hiding the positivity which surrounds Celtic Park these days as the team remain on course for the domestic treble.

Forrest said: “We just heard on Friday about the manager’s new contract and all the boys are delighted.

“He didn’t tell us, we only heard as we left training. But all the boys are happy. A few of us have signed a new deal this season so for him to sign up for the same length of time, it just continues the buzz about the place right now.

“We don’t want to stop now, we want to keep going. It’s exciting what we can achieve under him, now that he’s committed long-term.

“Since he came in, it’s been perfect up until now. But he’s always working on us, he doesn’t want to stop. That’s great for the players and the fans.”