RODGERS FIRES A WARNING SHOT

BRENDAN RoDgERs has warned he won’t stand by and watch the rot set in at Celtic. In the latest public sign of strained relations with the club’s hierarchy over transfer dealings, the Parkhead boss reiterated his call for quality signings and admitted that he will never settle for second-best. Frustrated by the loss of top target John Mcginn to Aston Villa, Rodgers voiced concerns earlier this week that his Double Treble-winning side could go backwards unless new players are signed and sealed. Australian World Cup winger Daniel Arzani, 19, will pen a two-year loan deal from Manchester City today, with veteran left-back Emilio Izaguirre set to rejoin the club. Reiterating the need to splash the cash on proven quality, however, Rodgers fired another warning shot across the board’s bows when he admitted he will never be happy with standing still. ‘Yeah. My job is done then. Terminado. gone,’ he said. ‘But that’s the challenge. You

have to test yourself to the limit. You have to be courageous as a club. ‘I love life here and enjoy being the manager. But it’s no good if I sit back and get comfortable. Being comfortable is the enemy of progress. ‘I never allow it in my own life or professional life. You see it in sports and in industry. The minute you think you’re doing okay, it can quickly disappear. ‘You have to be mindful of that and keep getting stronger. ‘Dermot (Desmond, major shareholder), Peter (Lawwell, chief executive) and Ian (Bankier, chairman) all want what’s best for Celtic. Critically, they are major shareholders and run the club. I have to respect that — and I do.’ Admitting he can’t sit in silence or rest on his laurels after back-to-back domestic Trebles and year-on-year qualification for the Champions League, however, Rodgers claimed: ‘My ambition is for Celtic. Every manager is ambitious but for me it’s inherently about the club. ‘We’ve done a Double Treble, been invincible and 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 is simple; it’s quality players. ‘It’s too late once the rot sets in. I’ve always tried to guard against it. Especially after our first season, we built on it last year. We want to keep building. ‘I respect how difficult it can be, the financial side is tough.’ Relations with Lawwell were strained when Rodgers expressed concern over the failure to close deals for top transfer targets before the first-leg Champions League draw with AEK Athens. Failure to secure qualification for the group stages will put Lawwell, Desmond and Ian Bankier under intense scrutiny. Privately, board figures insist nothing has changed in the way they conduct transfer negotiations and are taken aback by the manager’s words. Asked if he had been spoken to since Tuesday’s press conference, Rodgers said: ‘It’s not an issue. I haven’t spoken to anyone.’ Asked if Celtic’s ambitions matched his own, however, Rodgers said tersely: ‘I wouldn’t answer that. It’s private.’