Bellamy: No-one in England cares what Rodgers does in Scotland

Craig Bellamy claims no one in English football is impressed with Brendan Rodgers’ success at Celtic because that’s what’s expected of the Parkhead side.

The former striker, who spent half a season on loan at Celtic in 2005, compared Rodgers’ time up north with his own spell in Scottish football when he scored nine goals in 15 games as Martin O’neill’s side came within one match of winning the double.

The ex-liverpool and Manchester City forward says his exploits at Celtic carried no weight with clubs down south. In fact, Bellamy insists more clubs were interested before he made his move.

He believes if Rodgers is looking to use his time with Celtic to get himself another top job in the English Premier League, following his sacking at Liverpool, then he’ll likely be disappointed. Speaking to bookmakers Paddy Power, Bellamy said: “Brendan Rodgers couldn’t have done any more than he did with Celtic last season. His reputation of a great coach is there, but getting one of the top jobs again in the Premier League might be difficult for him. Mainly

because, and I found this out during my time in Scotland, it doesn’t matter what you do up there – no one cares. I had more offers in January, before I went to Celtic, than I did when I finished my time up there the following summer. That’s because once you went up to Scotland nobody in England gave a damn what you did up there. If you do well up there, it’s a case of ‘so you should’. I just didn’t feel it mattered to anyone down south.”

Bellamy also dismissed Celtic’s unbeaten domestic 2016-17 season, saying it shouldn’t be considered among their greatest because Rangers are so weak.

He said: “There was always going to be a gap after what happened to Rangers and it hasn’t helped Celtic. I know Celtic will say they’ve had their best run ever, but you can’t class this side with the one from the Sixties. You can’t do that because it’s not fair and it isn’t real. Celtic need a strong Rangers.”