Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that contract discussions at Celtic are on the back burner for now, with the manager insisting his full focus is on the football rather than his long-term deal.

Rodgers, who returned to Celtic two years on a three-year contract, addressed the topic after speculation surrounding his future resurfaced in light of recent frustrations over transfer activity and fan unrest.

He had already confirmed that talks had taken place during the summer, but when he faced the media on Friday, ahead of the trip to Livingston, he gave a fresh update.

“Everyone at this club, from the board to myself, we want the very, very best for Celtic,” Rodgers said to Sky Sports. “And for me, longer term, I don’t think so much as a manager. I had, we had the chances over the summer, but I said, now the season starts, I only want to think of the football. I don’t want to think of the contract. Just think of the football and that will come away later on.”

While the manager has previously made clear his commitment to staying at Celtic for the full term of his deal, he also confirmed that any deeper contract discussions were paused at his request once the season began.

Despite the noise off the pitch and the slow pace of squad strengthening, Rodgers’ priority is delivering results and getting Celtic through a crucial run of games in both Europe and the league. Hopefully, he can get signinsg through the door to help with that.

With pressure mounting on the board and questions over ambition circling, Rodgers’ decision to sideline contract talks shows a manager fully locked in on the immediate task getting this team back on track and into the Champions League.