Chris Sutton says Brendan Rodgers' Celtic departure is all 'water under the bridge' with the focus on what happens from now.
The former Hoops gaffer is back for a second stint in the hot seat following Ange Postecoglou's exit for Tottenham and a crack at the English Premier League. Four years ago Rodgers left Parkhead for a return south of the border with Leicester City with the timing of his departure not going down well with sections of the Celts faithful.
The Green Brigade made their feelings known just moments after his return was announced on a three-year deal by tweeting a photo of the banner used years ago aimed at his exit that read: "You traded immortality for mediocrity. Never a Celt. Always a fraud."
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Sutton admits to being critical at the time and stands by his opinions but has told supporters it is time to back the manager as he questioned what all the negativity is going to achieve.
He wrote in his Daily Record column: "It looks like not everyone is fully on board with Brendan Rodgers coming back to Celtic when you look at the snippy response from the Green Brigade.
"They are not shy about coming forward and voicing their opinions and reappointing the former manager seems to have gone down like a lead balloon with some of them. They’ve made their feelings known – and they can do what they like – but I will ask them this: what is the point? What are they going to achieve with negativity at a time when the club would be pulling together after Ange Postecoglou’s departure?
"Celtic are the Treble winners and the dominant team in Scotland. They have also gone out and got the best possible man for the job in replacing the Aussie. The petted-lip routine from some is a total waste of time. If the Celtic board are going to back Rodgers with a big chequebook to make the side even better – then they should give their backing as well. I just don’t get the point of backlash. It was okay to be critical when Rodgers departed last time. Listen, I was critical as well and stand by that criticism.
"But we are four years on. Is Rodgers to be castigated from now until the end of time? Is he to be publicly flogged forever more? What do these fans want? It’s taken huge balls to come back to Celtic this soon. It would have been far easier for him to keep his distance and if he really wanted another shot in the hot seat, do it years down the line. Instead he’s taken the challenge and the fans should at least accept it and look forward to an exciting future.
"Rodgers will face the media and the fans and I’ve heard some people saying he should apologise. Give me a break. We know the way he left wasn’t great, with the side in the hunt for a Treble, but Neil Lennon managed to finish it off. Rodgers can’t be held accountable for the failure to win 10-in-a-row – it was two years down the line, for goodness sake.
"I’d imagine the manager will come out and say he regrets the timing of his departure but it’s water under the bridge and the focus is on what happens next. And that should be it. There’s no need to drag him over the coals further. What fans should want to hear is the plans for the future in the short, medium and long term."
