OPINION
The entire Celtic fanbase will surely be raging at broadcaster Jim White’s claim on talkSPORT today that Leicester City would be a “sizeable step up” for Brendan Rodgers.
The northern Irishman has emerged as the Premier League club’s first choice to replace under-fire Claude Puel as manager of the eighth-placed club.
Delivering his verdict on the possibility, Scot White will have wound up Bhoys good and proper that swapping the double treble winners for the 2016 Premier League champions is just what Rodgers needs at this time in his career.
“The move makes more and more sense,” White said on the Jim White Show at 11.30am today (Wednesday). “Moving to Leicester is arguably a sizeable step up.
“Look at the spending power involved here and the budgets involved here as well. In the last transfer window, Celtic spent £11million. Leicester spent almost 10 times that, £104million. That in itself is impressive.
“Brendan would be moving to the former Premier League champions. He needs a new challenge and has a proven record competing against big teams. He’s proved in the past that given resources, Brendan Rodgers will get you results.”
“Leicester is arguably a sizeable step up from Celtic, look at spending power.”
“He needs a new challenge and has a record competing against big teams.”@JimWhite says it makes sense for Rodgers to quit #CelticFC for #LCFC. pic.twitter.com/E9aUxwG5mc
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) January 16, 2019
There is some merit in what White says. The pull of the Premier League is undeniable, in terms of the prestige, glamour, popularity and level of competition.
Leicester have also maintained their status as a top-10 club despite slipping back down the pecking order behind the division’s real giants since their unforgettable triumph under Claudio Ranieri.
Yet, the east Midlands club have none of the history or tradition of Celtic, the former European Cup winners who have won seven consecutive Scottish titles as well as consecutive domestic trebles.
The passion and support for the Hoops is also on a completely different level to Leicester, a provincial club by comparison.
Celtic fans won’t appreciate the comments from White, who is widely regarded to be a Rangers supporter, although he stops short of going public with his allegiances.
Bhoys also won’t take too kindly to the broadcaster urging Rodgers to head back down south for the good of his career.
It is likely such incendiary comments will have them fuming.