Rodgers: If my Hoops fail to show progress I’m ‘ terminado’

BRENDAN Rodgers has given the biggest indication yet that if his ambitions are not matched by the Celtic board he would consider his future at the club.

Irked at the manner in which John McGinn was allowed to slip through the net after being courted by the Parkhead side throughout the summer, Rodgers was unambiguous with his feelings at the lack of quality signings made in the transfer window. Celtic have added striker Odsonne Edouard for a club record transfer fee of £ 9 million as well as back- up goalkeeper Scott Bain.

Rodgers has made no secret that he wished to supplement that with other additions and he has maintained that if he is not in a position to do so then there is a danger that he will consider his position at the club.

Asked directly if the day he stops pushing for

that quality is the day he is better not here, Rodgers said: “Yeah. My job is done then. Terminado. Gone.

“But that’s the challenge. You have to test yourself to the limit. You have to be couragous as a club. It’s a joy to work here. I love my life here and enjoy being the manager here.

“But it’s no good if I just sit back and get comfortable. Being comfortable is the enemy of progress disappear, and that’s the greatest institutions.

“You have to be mindful of that and keep getting stronger and stronger.

“Dermot [ Desmond], Peter [ Lawwell] and Ian [ Bankier] all want what is best for Celtic. Critically, they are major shareholders and run the club. I have to respect that, and I do.

“My ambition is for Celtic. Every manger is ambitious but for me it’s inherently about the club. We’ve done a double Treble, been invincible in one of those seasons, set a British record for unbeaten games.

“We don’t want to stand still. How do we improve? We improve in Europe and in order to do that, it’s simple, is quality players. The minute I start thinking otherwise and get comfortable, then progress stops. In football you can’t afford to do that. It’s too late once the rot sets in. It’s too late. I’ve always tried to guard against it.”

Rodgers’ comments did not go down well with the Celtic board earlier this week.

The Celtic manager declined to give an answer when questioned as to whether he felt he had been backed by the the Parkhead board.

And Rodgers was reluctant to accept that the public manner of his criticism was responsible for any disharmony at the club.

“It’s not an issue. I haven’t spoken to anyone,” he said.

“I get on with my work. I have good relations with the people here and there’s no issue.

“They have run the club strategically very, very well. Me coming into here and what I have seen in the last couple of years, I have real good relations with every one of them. There is not an issue there at all.

“My focus is on doing the best for Celtic. Deep down I am a supporter but I am also a professional manager.”

And while Rodgers accepts that from the board’s perspective spending significant money – in Scottish terms – may not guarantee a further return in Europe, he believes it is imperative to strive for it.

“What we need in the squad in terms of real genuine quality positioning will obviously cost you money,” he said. “It doesn’t guarantee anything. What you would hope is that it would give you a greater opportunity. It doesn’t really change.”