‘DISGUSTING’
Rodgers has no right to speak about Hearts’ problems, insists Tynecastle caretaker boss Daly
JON DALY issued an impassioned defence of the Hearts hierarchy by branding Brendan Rodgers’ criticism of the Edinburgh club’s recruitment policy as ‘disgusting’ and ‘disgraceful’.
Daly, appointed caretaker boss after the sacking of Ian Cathro on Tuesday morning, was riled by the comments made by the Celtic manager in advance of yesterday’s Premiership opener at Parkhead and chose to bite back after the conclusion of his team’s 4-1 defeat.
Responding to Cathro’s dismissal on Friday, Rodgers had specifically questioned the signings of Christophe Berra and Kyle Lafferty, claiming they were ill-suited to the style of play favoured by the 31-year-old, appointed last December at the behest of director of football Craig Levein.
Not only did Daly, 34, take issue with that specific point, he also claimed Rodgers had crossed a line in criticising Hearts’ football structure.
He said: ‘I thought Brendan’s comments were absolutely disgusting. Disgraceful.
‘A manager of his calibre should know better. I’ve followed Brendan’s career down south when he was at Liverpool. Not once did I hear him make a comment about the structures at Man United, Chelsea or Man City.
‘But all of a sudden he comes to Celtic and thinks it’s acceptable. Our football club is structured in a way that helps younger coaches.
‘You have an owner in Ann
No. 1797
Budge who is refreshing and honest. Even this week, she came out and said they’ve made a mistake with the seats for the new stand. At the minute our club is very easy to pick on and kick.’
Daly said it was ‘farcical’ for Rodgers to suggest Cathro was undermined in building his squad.
‘I can understand his comments about the manager because none of us like to see someone lose their job,’ he continued. ‘But questioning Ian’s authority? That shows me that he doesn’t know Ian very well.’
He added: ‘I have not had the chance to see him but when I see him I will tell him that I’m not happy.’
Hearts captain Berra, back at the club for a second stint as captain, laughed off Rodgers’ words, saying: ‘He can say what he wants. Football is about opinions and we just get on it.
‘Maybe what he said was disrespectful but I’m not going to lose sleep over it.
‘I’ve played football long enough to have had bad things written about me and my team and it’s never bothered me before. To be fair, I just laughed at it.’