Former Celtic player Mark Wilson has called for patience in response to the recent pressure mounting on Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers.
Following back-to-back Scottish Premiership defeats for the first time in a decade, some fans have expressed frustration, with calls for Rodgers’ dismissal being voiced.
Some fans have also turned on the board, with ‘sack the board, echoed during Celtic’s defeat to Hearts.
Speaking on Clyde 1 Superscoreboard, Wilson strongly defended Rodgers, stressing the need for perspective given the manager’s relatively short time back at the helm. He highlighted that despite recent setbacks, Celtic still lead the premiership, and it is too early in Rodgers’ second tenure to consider drastic actions like sacking him.
“Certainly not [patience is needed]. There is just no way [you can sack Rodgers just now].
“What is he four or five months into his second spell? He is sitting five points clear, whichever way you frame it. With Rangers having two games in hand. That is fine. But one of those games will come in January.
“It must be the earliest time to pull the plug, to save your season, when you are on top of the league. I have never heard that before.
“This, I just can’t get my head around this, ‘the need to act quickly. Rangers acted quickly under Beale’. Surely, anybody can tell the difference between Celtic, at the minute, at the top of the league where Michael Beale was against Aberdeen. Surely that’s an easy thing to see. I just don’t think you should sack Rodgers.”
Brendan Rodgers has only had one transfer window to bring players to the club, and even at that, it was rushed with him also arriving in the summer.
After January, fans will hopefully be able to see a team with Rodgers’ imprint after a few signings. The manager has repeatedly called for ‘quality’ and ‘experienced’ additions, it’s now over to the board to back him with players that meet that criteria.
