ANALYSIS

IF there was a suspicion that the divorce courts were looming at the end of a fractious summer, Celtic and Brendan Rodgers embarked on something of a second honeymoon at the club’s AGM yesterday afternoon.

The rancour of a transfer window in which Rodgers made public his displeasure – “I think we all see that I’m not very good at hiding it” – seemed almost as distant as the emotive, turbulent exchanges that have marked these Celtic gatherings in the past.

This one was a show of unity, about a board, a chief executive and a manager offering a sense of the collective. If Celtic’s social media account had tweeted the meeting, it might well have been with a loveheart emoji after every update.

It was there in the opening video shoots in which chairman Iain Bankier, chief executive Peter Lawwell and Rodgers all said their piece to camera in an overview of the last 12 months but it was never more apparent than when the inevitable question came from the floor regarding the conducting of transfer business in the summer.

With money in the bank – that Lawwell maintained will be invested – there was frustration at the public manner in which Celtic lost out on John McGinn and the failure to land further targets. Rodgers was unequivocal in his criticism in the final weeks of the transfer window but as Lawwell offered up his case for the defence, it was the Celtic manager who intercepted to take charge.

And where there was an edge to the questioning of Lawwell – “I thought you’d say that” as soon as Odsonne Edouard’s £10m fee was mentioned – Rodgers’ involvement was the placatory offering.

“The success we’ve had in the last two and a half years has been about this collective,” the 45-year-old told the shareholder. “A collective performance on the pitch because that, for me, is where it all starts. And very importantly off the pitch.

“I’ve always had here since I’ve been at Celtic is a great support from the board. Listen, we’re all human. When you work closely with people, like you’ll do at work or in your relationships, it’s not always singing and dancing.

“What can always say about the board here is their job is always to future proof the club. This club has been run immaculately for a number of years. From the time I’m here and from the time when I’m gone, it will continue to be.

“The guys who are here do an incredible job collectively with