Celtic legend John Hartson believes Brendan Rodgers is fully committed to seeing out his current contract but has urged the manager to address his long-term future during next season to avoid unnecessary distraction.
Rodgers, who returned to Celtic two summer’s ago, has already guided the club to a league and cup double and now stands on the brink of a domestic Treble, with the Scottish Cup Final against Aberdeen still to come.
But as speculation inevitably builds around his next move, Hartson warned that the uncertainty surrounding Rodgers’ future could dominate headlines if left unaddressed.
Rodgers has insisted he’s committed to the job, stating he was “200% staying” after securing the title. Still, Hartson believes a more formal declaration could help settle the narrative, both inside and outside the club.
“Brendan’s come back, he’ll certainly do the three years at the club with the contract that he signed.
“I think one million per cent he’s in for next year.
“The issue you’ve got is the whole year Brendan will be asked, ‘Are you staying? Or are you going?’. “He doesn’t want that to affect the team.
“Brendan will be linked with big moves to Italy, Spain or wherever.
“But for everyone’s sake, there needs to come a time at some stage next season where he comes out and tells people about his future.
“Because if he waits until the end of the season, everything is going to be dominated by what Rodgers is doing.
“Whether he does that, the club might want that as well. Let everyone know so they can start preparing.
“In an ideal world, he’d stay. And hopefully he’d stay for plenty more years.
“He seems very happy at Celtic. He’s come back and he’s won trophies again.
“He’s got a tough game against Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup final, of course.
“But Brendan hoovers up trophies. That’s what he does.
“He does what it says on the can. He’s a winner.” [SunSport]
How next season pans out will shape what Brendan Rodgers does with his future, you’d imagine. He’ll be hoping to defend a treble and push on in Europe, with some new players in the squad.
But when his contract does expire, it will be 6 years at Celtic, which is a long time for any manager these days. He may well see his time as over and search for a new challenge.
