By Martin Graham
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has resigned from his role after an extraordinary public row with major shareholder Dermot Desmond, who accused him of “divisive, deceitful and self-serving” behaviour. The Scottish Premiership champions confirmed their resignation in an overnight statement at 21:44 GMT, adding that former manager Martin O’Neill will take charge on an interim basis, assisted by ex-Celtic player Shaun Maloney.
The announcement came just a day after Celtic’s 3-1 defeat by Heart of Midlothian at Tynecastle, which left the club eight points behind the league leaders after nine games. It capped a difficult start to the season, which also saw an uninspiring European campaign and frustration during the transfer window.
The club’s official statement, running just 134 words, thanked Rodgers for his service over two separate spells and confirmed the search for a permanent replacement was already underway. Within hours, Celtic fans were stunned once again when Desmond published a rare personal letter aimed directly at the controversy.
Desmond disputes Rodgers’ claims about contract and transfers
In his deposition, Desmond challenged Rodgers’ version of events regarding his contractual status, employment and employment relationship with the board. The 73-year-old investor rejected the manager’s earlier claim that no contract extension had been formally offered, insisting the club had sought to retain him beyond the end of the current season as a show of confidence and long-term commitment.
Desmond described Rodgers’ comments about the lack of a new deal as “simply untrue”, adding that every signing and sale made under his leadership had been made with the “full knowledge, approval and endorsement of the manager”. He claimed Rodgers had final authority over all football matters and was consistently supported in the recruitment process, including through a “record investment” in players he personally approved.
The Irish businessman accused the Northern Irish manager of worsening tensions around Celtic Park by making misleading public statements about the club’s operations. According to Desmond, these statements “came completely out of the blue” and contributed to a “toxic atmosphere” that undermined trust within the club.
Rodgers’ frustration and public criticism of the team
Rodgers, 52, began his second spell in Glasgow in 2023 after previously leading the club to back-to-back league titles in 2017 and 2018. Upon his return, he signed a three-year contract and stressed his intention to stay long-term, following criticism over his abrupt exit from Leicester City in 2019.
However, tensions rose as Celtic’s performances fell early in the season. Rodgers repeatedly expressed his frustration with the club’s transfer business, implying that the squad did not have enough quality to compete at the highest level. After the 2-0 defeat to Dundee on 19 October, he commented: “There’s no way you can go into a race and be handed the keys to a Honda Civic and say, ‘I want you to drive it like a Ferrari.’
Desmond rejected that analogy, countering that Rodgers had been fully involved in all hiring decisions. He argued that any failure on the pitch does not stem from the club’s structure, but from “one individual’s desire for self-preservation at the expense of others”.
O’Neill’s surprise return and belief in Hearts’ title hopes
In a remarkable turnaround, Martin O’Neill is returning to Celtic 20 years after ending his first trophy-laden spell with the club. During his previous tenure between 2000 and 2005, he won three league titles, three Scottish Cups and one League Cup, as well as leading Celtic to the UEFA Cup final.
The 73-year-old has failed to deliver since leaving Nottingham Forest in 2019, although he remains a respected figure in Scottish football. In a curious coincidence, O’Neill had earlier appeared on TalkSport on Monday, hours before the announcement, predicting that Hearts could break the Old Firm’s dominance and claim the league title for the first time since 1985. “Celtic can lose games now, whereas they looked invincible before,” he said.
O’Neill will be joined by Shaun Maloney, who played with him at Celtic and later worked in the Belgium coaching staff. Maloney’s managerial experience includes brief spells with Hibernian and Wigan Athletic, and he returned to Celtic in June as a career player manager. The pair will now oversee the team as the club goes through one of its most turbulent periods in recent years.
