Today, Brendan Rodgers did what all managers at big clubs are expected to do—he became the spokesperson, the figurehead who not only stated club policy but defended it from outsiders who try to misrepresent or harm the club.
Since the beginning of the Ibrox-Celtic ticket standoff, the media has consistently tried to play it off as if both clubs are equally to blame.
We all know that’s not true.
We all know there’s only one club responsible for this, and every blog has said so over and over again. What’s been missing from this debate—aside from any semblance of honesty and integrity from the media or governing bodies—was a clear, definitive statement from someone high-profile at Celtic that left no room for ambiguity or spin.
Today, our club made a statement on this issue.
It was decent, highlighting doubts about where January’s game might be played. But the feedback I got from people after that statement was clear; they wanted Celtic to point the finger directly at Ibrox and say, “This is their fault.”
There are always debates about whether our chief executive should take a more front-facing role, but his tendency to stay in the background has its advantages.
It solidifies the manager’s role as the club’s most important figure and de facto spokesperson. If anyone at Celtic was going to carry that message and point the finger where it belongs, Brendan Rodgers was the perfect person for the job. And today, he did exactly that.
The press conference was outstanding. Rodgers anticipated the question, so his response wasn’t off-the-cuff. He had time to think about what he was going to say, and when the topic came up, he didn’t hold back. He skewered the club across the city with his answer, laying out the facts that many have conveniently ignored or avoided discussing.
Not only did Rodgers back the club’s stance, but he also made it clear that there was an agreement in place, and it was broken. Not by Celtic, but by them. He emphasized that from the very start, people have tried to paint this as an issue caused by two clubs, when in fact, there’s only one culprit.
Rodgers said it plainly: “It’s not complicated. I believe there was an agreement in place to carry out works to ensure it’s in place for both sets of supporters. Celtic have been working on that for months… but you can only do that if the agreement is upheld by both. If we can’t guarantee that, then sadly, we aren’t able to open the gates for the away supporters for this one.”
What came next was a real bombshell: “Celtic have played their part… but none of this was Celtic’s issue, nothing. When this all started, it had nothing to do with Celtic. It’s not a Celtic/Rangers thing, this is a Rangers thing… Celtic ploughed money into the works that started months ago, and it hasn’t been done by both parties.”
Rodgers made it clear: “If we allow (their) supporters in, then get to January and our own supporters can’t get in, that’s not good faith. So, the agreement hasn’t been upheld, and Celtic rightly have to defend their supporters and the club. Sadly, (their) supporters will have to miss out on this game, and Celtic fans will miss out on the return game.”
If Rodgers had used the word “Sevco,” I’d still be applauding. What he said today is what every Celtic fan has wanted to hear since this whole thing began. It was simple, direct, and left no doubt as to where the blame lies. Rodgers has once again proven himself to be the undisputed leader of Celtic because this is how leaders act.
The club’s official statement was good, but Rodgers took it further. He made sure everyone knows this isn’t about Celtic being unreasonable; it’s about defending the club and its supporters. He made sure everyone knows who has really been taking the piss here.
For once, we’ve gotten ahead in the PR battle and absolutely stomped them. Their recent statement was laughable, and after the SPFL’s pathetic response, we came out swinging. This is exactly how we should have handled it from the start, but now that it’s done, the media has no excuse. They have to cover what the boss said today.
The club’s conduct here has been masterful, and that of the boss in particular.
Jeez If he would have mentioned Sevco it would have been the biggest kick in the Nadz oldco/sevco/the new rangers ever had.
He’d have to leave town because that chapter in their history that proves they are a new entity has to be whitewashed from the history books. Pitchforks and torches from the Klan.
I remember the oldco/newco/Tesco vibe it was brilliant.
I read the conversation log and he was on the mark for sure. He expressed a very well run club at Celtic and put it out that there is no guarantees Sevco Fc will be back home any time soon.
Has the boats arrived? Are they submarines? have the U-boats performed a U-turn?
Also over on Phil’s site, sevco the Klub disputing the minuted discussions and agreements with Elite’s reps, they could be struggling to pay the first part of the agreed payment.
No be long to late payment of wages and bills mounting up. What a fekin klub,!! Heating turned down and the leccy heaters in reception. LMFAO.!
Brendan said all that had to be said
Let the meltdown commence
We are very lucky to have Brendan in charge of our team.
Long may he reign over us. 🙂
Dave King started this to give Sevco an advantage and if I remember rightly it worked as they won, with Celtic failing to “turn up” due to the atmosphere.
According to the bear pit it is our fault we are lying, we haven’t done the work and it is us that’s not ready, David Edgar says it just requires 4 posts with netting to cover us so what’s the problem!!
I believe the thinking behind this was to give certain people plenty of time to dig a big enough hole that they couldn’t climb out of before he gave that calm articulated perfectly timed response.
The smiling assassin right enough.
An absolute blinding broadside.
Brendan’s a class act , brilliant!
Brilliant Brendan at last the message as it should be said. We do it right, they don’t know what right is.
Agree James
Quality communicator operating at his best !
They may all scream but they have nowhere to go
He absolutely nailed it today and I can see things change !
For Brendan to come out with that , tells us that he his the main man and possibly why we don’t have head of recruitment ! I think it could upset the balance and BR does like to be the main man , rightly so ! I can see celtic back him to the max and it’s becoming very relevant that the type of player we want won’t come easy or cheap . 3 at 6m rather that at 2 was music to my ears…. Maybe we are just about to go full steam ahead
Rodgers was sublime today, I have been desperate to see someone call them out on this and today Brendan delivered, BIGTIME.
I also saw Clements reply ? like a rabbit caught in the headlights.
He’ll be wondering now what he’s got himself into.
It’s been a long time since I was so proud of a Celtic manager.
In that statement today he has gone a long long way building bridges with certain sections of the support.
And a nice tiffo to emphasise that on Sunday wouldn’t go amiss.
Brendan was wheeled out and spoon fed that line from the board ,any one knows him that is not in his repertoire IMO and mine only it’s a smoke screen to side track there won’t be more transfer business this window, I pray I’m wrong .
Felt nothin but admiration for the manager not holdin anythin back like that. Well done BR.
Awesome from our manager today,nailed it right on the head
James, that’s just BRILLIANT to hear and about time someone at OUR club came out and told the truth. That’s all it takes, come out and tell the truth.
BRILLIANT, BRAVO, BRILILLIANT, BRAVO, BRENDAN !
Elequently put and The TRUTH as well…
Let’s see how youse handle that then –
YE SCUMMY SCOTTISH FOOTBALL MEDIA BAR STEWARDS !!!
To think that Dundee had to pay Sevco £40,000 because Dens Park had a puddle in the penalty area.
Sevco can’t guarantee the Crumbledome will be a safe place for away fans by the New Year. Celtic made the correct decision not to allow away supporters to attend the derby in two weeks time.
It is a shameful state of affairs that Brendan Rodgers had to do the MSM’s job for them today. He spelled it out in a fashion that left no room for doubt about where the blame lay for this fiasco. Even Keith Jackson would have understood the main points Rodgers made.
I might be posting this for the 2nd time, it’s definitely the 2nd time I’ve wrote this (bit pissed).
Brilliant from Rodgers! Absolutely brilliant, he made the point as clearly as we’ve seen on this blog many times, he didn’t go too far or stop short. Perfect. I’d say it was a wee nod to yourself James. They are plain facts but the tone was familiar to what I read here daily.
I don’t always agree with some of your slant on proceedings but I couldn’t agree more fella. 100%.
Sure I, like many others I’m sure, would have liked the board to have stated this too but your right in that it puts Brendan front and foremost as the leader of the pack and the dual statements add up to a and deliver a powerful show of strength if not perhaps total unity. It’s probably our turn now as the best club fans in the world and as all the bad spellers of the world should do too and untie.
What an absolutely fucking great week
Forgot to add but only if the board sanction those 2 or 3 priority signings and a back up third striker too would not be a bad idea. See I agree with you again
When he started his answer I wasn’t sure how far he was going to go. Then he just hit bullseye after bullseye with his answer. Absolutely brilliant, and not before time!! How long have we waited for someone from Celtic to call this shit out. Clement looks like a fekn amateur next to BR!???