Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that he has yet to be offered a new contract by Celtic, despite entering the final year of his current deal.
Talks have taken place over the summer, but the manager insists he remains fully committed to pushing the club forward and made it clear he won’t be hanging around just to maintain the status quo.
Rodgers rejoined the club last summer and is now beginning his third season in charge in his second spell.
Speaking to CeltsAreHere ahead of the new Premiership campaign, he addressed speculation over his future and confirmed discussions with majority shareholder Dermot Desmond and chief executive Michael Nicholson had taken place.
“There’s no further update, no,” he said to CeltsAreHere. “And for the sake of honesty and clarity, I can tell you exactly where we’re at. I said when I came here first that I’d do three years minimum — and people had me out the door at the end of last season going various places. I said then, like I’ve said now, that there’s nowhere to go. I love being here. I’ve done two years. I’ve got one more year to go.
“Dermot and Michael and I had a conversation over the summer on where we were at and where it sits with myself and everything else. And I said, I’m very happy here. There’s conditions we want in to be able to improve and be better — because I’m not the type of manager that’s good at maintaining anything.
“If it’s just something to maintain, I’m not the manager of Celtic. It’ll be someone else. But to build and grow and develop and push, then, of course, I love being at Celtic.”
“When the club feel that there’s that time to make an offer, then they will do. But, as I said, it’s slightly different from a manager’s perspective to a player. It doesn’t change my hunger and desire here for the work.”
As the new season begins with the flag day clash at Celtic Park on Sunday, Rodgers has his eyes firmly set on delivering improvement — not just on last year, but on what the club expects at the highest level.
It’s the first time that he has spoken honestly and openly about his contract, which is now in its final year.
Some fans have speculated that Rodgers wants away, or only has one eye on the ball, but he’s made it clear that that’s not the case. He’s only interested in improving Celtic.
