John Hartson has predicted that Brendan Rodgers will only be Celtic manager for one more season.
The Hoops legend shared that he thought his former club would be powerless to stop Rodgers leaving if he decides he wants to go, as even if the Bhoys offered him a large sum of money they wouldn’t change his mind.
“There were some suggestions over the weekend that Rodgers is on a shortlist of managers who have been earmarked to replace Antonio Conte should he leave Chelsea at the end of the season, while Arsenal and Spurs have both been linked with him,” wrote Hartson in his column for the Evening Times.
“And ultimately it wouldn’t matter if Celtic offered him a king’s ransom to stay – it will be Rodgers’ decision when he goes and when he feels the time is right to go.
“But my own suspicion would be that we might see just one more year of Brendan at Celtic, if that is the case then you have to say that three years is a long time in football to spend at one club.”
Hartson added that he thought Rodgers loved life at Celtic and that his family were settled in the area, but admitted that the Hoops’ next European campaign would decide whether the manager will leave the club.
“It really will come down to him what his next step is but the way I see it is that he will want to make an impact in the Champions League next season, that will be the next challenge for him now,” stated the Hoops legend.
“I think he is a sensible guy, he is a realist and there is never going to be the resources at Celtic to go and ask for silly money but I do think that he will ask for one or two players of genuine quality who could make the difference.
“And I think that if there is a player that he really wants and believes will enhance that squad on a European level, that the board will back him.”
OPINION
Hartson’s prediction that Rodgers will only be at Parkhead for one more season, has a very good chance of being correct. However the former Hoops forward lists so many reasons why the manager may stay even longer. Hartson claims that Rodgers has the full backing of the board and will be supported in the transfer market, and it’s hard to see a manager walking away from that sort of faith in him. However Hartson seems to undervalue the temptation of managing in England’s Premier League. The Hoops legend refers to the fact that if you’re in charge of Arsenal, you could be under pressure after losing just two games, but that won’t put someone like Rodgers off. The Hoops manager is clearly confident in his ability and would no doubt jump at the opportunity to manage in England once again, if the right opportunity came along.