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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
David Irvine

Green Brigade absent from Brendan Rodgers Celtic Parkhead return

Celtic fan group the Green Brigade appear to have opted to miss Brendan Rodgers' first match back at Parkhead as manager.

The supporters' group usually occupies a corner of Celtic Park however the area - which included a standing section - was largely empty for the match against Athletic Bilbao.

It comes after the Green Brigade had shared an image of the banner branding Rodgers a "fraud" when he was re-appointed as Celtic boss.

Fans had been left furious over Rodgers move to Leicester in 2019 with a banner unfurled blasting his decision to leave Celtic for the Premier League club.

It read: "You traded immortality for mediocrity. Never a Celtic. Always a fraud."

An image showing the banner was shared by the group on Twitter when Rodgers returned to Celtic in the summer to replace Ange Postecoglou.

And it appears the anger remains within the fan group with the section of the stadium largely bare for Rodgers return to Parkhed.

The match is also a testimonial for James Forrest with Spanish club Bilbao the opposition in the pre-season fixture.

Rodgers earlier this week insisted he is unfazed by any negative reaction to his return to Celtic.

He said: "There's no apprehension. I made a decision to leave which I said before, I didn't regret. Celtic did well after I left.

"I had a good spell at Leicester and we won some trophies. I come back and I've had great support from the Celtic supporters.

"Listen, you won't always get everyone onside, but I think my experience in life tells me that people forgive when it suits, and they forget when it's convenient."

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