OPINION
Sun journalist Alan Nixon claimed that Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers was a contender to replace Rafa Benitez at Newcastle United but added that this was only the case if he didn’t end up go elsewhere.
The national reporter made the remark via his personal Twitter account after being asked by Magpies supporter for an early name in the race to replace Benitez if the Spanish manager departs St James Park in the summer.
Rodgers would be in frame. If doesn’t go elsewhere. https://t.co/J3tyB3lmeq
— Alan Nixon (@reluctantnicko) February 13, 2019
“Rodgers would be in frame, if doesn’t go elsewhere,” tweeted Nixon.
While Nixon linking Rodgers to the hot seat at St James Park is nothing new, his claim on this occasion carries the implication that it’s a case of where Rodgers goes rather than being if he opts to stay at Celtic.
The journalist could have easily stated that Rodgers was in the frame for the Newcastle United job if he was to depart Celtic, but that isn’t what he said.
Given this, Celtic fans will be fearing the worst that Rodgers’ exit is inevitable based on Nixon’s claim and that is something they will not want to consider.
Rodgers has provided stability at Celtic as well as constantly delivering trophy after trophy, and for him to leave, it would be a massive blow to the club.
While some outsiders may see Celtic as a cushy job that most could succeed in, that simply isn’t the case.
The Hoops don’t splash the cash in the transfer window the size of them implies they would, yet the aim is to rack up as many trophies without fail.
Rodgers has thrived in this environment and constantly excelled, so it’s no guarantee a successor would be able to do the same especially with the likes of Rangers as well as Aberdeen looking more formidable of a threat in the league.
Therefore many Celtic fans will be fearing the worst as Nixon’s claim about the Magpies potentially having their eye on Rodgers surely carried the implication he is about to be on the move.