Brendan Rodgers cleared the pathway to an imminent appointment as Celtic boss by slamming the door on an 11th hour hijack bid from Leeds.
Record Sport revealed how the money bags American owners of the Elland Road club were attempting to throw a spanner into the works of a Rodgers return to Parkhead. The Northern Irishman has been mulling over the offer of a second stint in Glasgow ever since being talked into the idea during two lengthy telephone conversations with major shareholder Dermot Desmond. And, with the back channelling intensifying over the last seven days, Rodgers has acted swiftly to shut down any potential complications arising from left field interest from the Yorkshire outfit who are bankrolled by the NFL giants San Francisco 49ers.
The 50-year-old has made it clear he has no intention of dropping into the second tier of English football and no wish to be considered for the position. It’s now anticipated that Leeds will begin a formal interview process with four back-up candidates next week, having given up hope of luring their top target into the job which was vacated by Sam Allardyce as the club crashed out of the Premier League.
Rodgers, though, has still to put pen to paper on the bumper contract which Desmond has drafted for him to succeed Ange Postecoglou. But his initial concerns about walking into a hostile backlash from supporters who have not forgiven him for leaving the club for Leicester City in 2019 appear to have eased considerably over the last few days. In fact, with many now openly warming to the idea, Rodgers’ willingness to even consider returning for a second stint - despite the venom he has been subjected to over the last four years - is being viewed as a sign of his genuine, deeply held affection for the club
Rodgers and his wife Charlotte were badly shaken when masked intruders broke into the couple’s former Glasgow home in the days after his shock departure for the KIng Power. That shocking incident has been one of the major factors feeding into the family’s decision making process ever since Desmond stepped in to make a personal intervention by urging Rodgers to U-turn on plans to take a full year out of the game.
Celtic’s top brass remain confident that the deal is now within touching distance and hope to have it concluded before the weekend. But, while Celtic see him as the safest possible bet to help continue the club’s domestic dominance, Rodgers has also expressed his own personal desire to build a team which can be more competitive in European football. A close source said: “Brendan was a little taken aback by Matt O’Riley’s comments the other day when he said Celtic can win the Champions League. I’m not sure anyone else really believes that’s a realistic target.
"But he is excited by the challenge of progressing in Europe and he believes he could make Celtic genuinely competitive again at that level. That’s one of the most appealing aspects of the proposition. He’s not interested in taking on another mid-table club in the EPL and the championship is certainly not where he sees himself managing next, as Leeds have now found out.
“In his mind’s eye, Brendan wanted an extended break from the game altogether. So if he’s going to go straight back into the firing line then it has to be for a job he just cannot allow himself to turn down.”
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