'Divisive and self-serving': Scathing statement released after Brendan Rodgers resigns as Celtic manager

Brendan Rodgers has resigned as manager of Celtic, the club have announced.

The champions had made a disappointing start to their Scottish Premiership campaign, trailing leaders Hearts by eight points after nine games. The club said in a statement on Monday evening, the Northern Irishman had resigned from his role.

They added that former boss Martin O'Neill, along with ex-Celtic star Shaun Maloney, will take over on an interim basis. 'Process to appoint a new permanent manager is under way' A statement read: "Celtic Football Club can confirm that football manager Brendan Rodgers has today tendered his resignation.

It has been accepted by the club and Brendan will leave his role with immediate effect. "The club appreciates Brendan's contribution to Celtic during his two very successful periods at the club.

"Brendan leaves Celtic with our thanks for the role he has played during a period of continued success for the club and we wish him further success in the future. "The process to appoint a new permanent manager is under way and the club will update supporters further on this as soon as possible.

"We are pleased that during this interim period, former Celtic manager, Martin O'Neill and former Celtic player, Shaun Maloney have agreed to take charge of Celtic first-team matters. Further details will be confirmed shortly." Celtic suffered a 3-1 defeat away to Hearts on Sunday.

They will play Falkirk next at home on Wednesday evening. There had been growing discontent among Celtic fans this season over a perceived lack of investment in the squad.

In response to the transfer window, Rodgers had said: "There's no way you'll go into a race and be given the keys to a Honda Civic and say 'I want you to drive it like a Ferrari'. It's not going to happen." Following the resignation, Celtic's principal shareholder, Dermot Desmond, released a statement branding the former Liverpool boss as "toxic".

'Any insinuation otherwise is absolutely false' Mr Desmond said: "In June, both Michael Nicholson (chief executive) and I expressed to Brendan that we were keen to offer him a contract extension, to reaffirm the club's full backing and long-term commitment to him. "He said he would need to think about it and revert.

Yet in subsequent press conferences, Brendan implied that the club had made no commitment to offer him a contract. That was simply untrue.

"Every player signed and every player sold during his tenure was done so with Brendan's full knowledge, approval, and endorsement. Any insinuation otherwise is absolutely false.

"His later public statements about transfers and club operations came entirely out of the blue. At no point prior to those remarks had he raised any such concerns with me, Michael, or any member of the board or executive team.

"In reality, he was given final say over all football matters and was consistently backed in the recruitment process - including record investment in players he personally identified and approved." 'Misleading and self-serving' He added: "Regrettably, his words and actions since then have been divisive, misleading, and self-serving. "They have contributed to a toxic atmosphere around the club and fuelled hostility towards members of the executive team and the board." Rodgers, who returned for his second spell in 2023, had also been under increasing pressure over results.

They crashed out of Champions League qualifying with a shock defeat to Kazakhstan's Kairat Almaty in August. Rodgers' first spell at Parkhead ran from May 2016 to February 2019 before leaving for Premier League side Leicester City.

In his first season, Celtic finished with a record 106 points and became the first Scottish side to complete a top-flight season undefeated since 1899..