Kris Commons has shot down suggestions that Leicester City are a bigger club than Celtic as he delivers his verdict on the impending departure of Brendan Rodgers from Parkhead.
The Northern Irish boss is said by Sky Sports to have verbally agreed to take over at the King Power Stadium after the Foxes sacked Claude Puel, leaving the Hoops seeking out a new man to take charge in the dugout.
However, Commons has rubbished suggestions that Leicester are a bigger club and cast doubts on whether the former Liverpool boss is really wanting the Foxes job in the long term.
He told Sky Sports News (26/02, 16:10): “It’s a strange one, not so much the destination Brendan’s gone – obviously England’s Premier League is a real big pull for him – but it’s the timing of it.
“The added spice to it is the timing of it all – on the cusp of winning eight Premiership titles, got the opportunity to win the treble, the timing for me is a little bit off.
“(Is the Leicester job a bigger job?) Absolutely not. I think the English Premier League has played a huge part in Brendan going down there. I think Leicester have got a top coach, a top manager, a proven manager but I think for me I think Brendan’s better than Leicester.
“He’s proved it at Liverpool, he’s proved it at Celtic, he’s a tremendous manager. It wasn’t so long ago he was linked with the Arsenal job – I think that’s what he wants. He wants to be winning titles, being part of cup winning teams.”
Opinion
An interesting couple of points made by Commons, who is obviously a little peeved by the manner in which Rodgers is leaving the club. He makes a fair point about how the timing of his exit is not ideal for the Hoops and you can be sure that the board would have been less than happy to see him depart midway through the campaign, especially with a potential third consecutive treble on the cards. As someone who is Celtic through and through, it should come as no surprise to hear his verdict on Leicester being deemed bigger than the Bhoys but at the same time this is a Premier League winning side we are talking about. Yes, it might have been a shock to the footballing world but that should not take away from their achievements in one of the most competitive divisions in the world. The Foxes could prove to be a stepping stone to bigger and better things if he succeeds, but Commons should accept he will be working with a much higher calibre of player as and when he joins the squad at the King Power Stadium.