Celtic's dominant majority shareholder Dermot Desmond has delivered a pointed message to manager Brendan Rodgers regarding the club's transfer market activities, following a season that fell short of expectations at Parkhead.
The Irish billionaire, who holds the controlling interest in the Glasgow giants, has made it abundantly clear that Rodgers must shoulder greater responsibility for recruitment decisions after Celtic's underwhelming campaign.
Transfer Strategy Under Scrutiny
In a rare public intervention, Desmond emphasised that the buck ultimately stops with the manager when it comes to new signings. This comes after several summer acquisitions failed to make the anticipated impact during the 2023-24 season.
The Celtic hierarchy has grown increasingly concerned about the return on investment from their transfer dealings, with Desmond now demanding improved decision-making in the recruitment process.
Rodgers Faces Increased Pressure
Despite securing the Scottish Premiership title, Rodgers faced significant criticism throughout the season as Celtic struggled to maintain their usual dominance. The Northern Irishman's second spell at the club has been marked by inconsistent performances and questions about the quality of his squad.
Desmond's comments signal a shift in accountability, with the manager now expected to take full ownership of transfer successes and failures moving forward.
Summer Rebuild Crucial
With Rangers showing signs of resurgence under Philippe Clement, the pressure is mounting on Rodgers to deliver a successful summer transfer window. Celtic supporters are demanding significant reinforcements to ensure the club can reestablish their supremacy in Scottish football.
The relationship between manager and board will be crucial during the upcoming transfer period, as Rodgers seeks to reshape his squad ahead of the new campaign.
Desmond's intervention serves as both a warning and a challenge to the Celtic manager, who now faces arguably the most important transfer window of his career in Glasgow.
