Why does Charlie Nicholas want Brendan Rodgers out?

By David Walton

October 9, 2018

When it comes to Charlie Nicholas on Brendan Rodgers, you would think the latter was itching to leave the club.

Despite consistently stating that he doesn’t want to go anywhere, some are refusing to believe it. Outside of the usual Scottish media nonsense about Rodgers leaving, we have a former Celt in Nicholas who seems desperate for him to go.

Rodgers has recently been linked with the Aston Villa job. Even though he’s consistently stated that he doesn’t want it, certain people aren’t taking no for an answer.

Brendan Rodgers has consistently reiterated his desire to stay at Celtic (Krugfoto/AFP/Getty Images)

Whilst Nicholas has acknowledged that Rodgers probably won’t leave for Villa Park, he says he will depart regardless. Better than that, he’s apparently actively looking for a new employer.

This comes from Nicholas’ piece in today’s Daily Star, where he spoke about Rodgers’ future:

“The speculation over Brendan Rodgers has just started – trust me. The Celtic boss won’t be replacing Steve Bruce at Aston Villa. But there’s so many little things that are not right in Paradise that Brendan will be thinking about putting one hand firmly on the exit door.

“I don’t think there is any fear of Brendan being sacked but he will start to look at finding a new employer. The likes of Leicester City or Newcastle United – if there is a takeover – could come into play.

“Or don’t be surprised if there’s renewed interest from China or even from another top European club. Brendan likes to be linked with different jobs – people who have an ego revel in these situations.”

A secret agent?

Is Nicholas maybe Rodgers’ secret agent? He certainly seems to know a lot about what is going through the Celtic manager’s mind.

Indeed, the former Hoops and Arsenal striker has managed to talk about moves to England, Europe, and China within two sentences. It may have escaped Nicholas’ notice, but Celtic hammered St Johnstone 6-0 at the weekend. It was the most emphatic score from any club in Scotland this season bar Hibs’ 6-0 rout of Hamilton.

Confidence is starting to return to the Parkhead ranks once more, and supporters are right behind Rodgers in the bid for 10-in-a-row. Meanwhile, the likes of Nicholas sit there with their fingers in their ears going “lalala” as Rodgers commits his future to the club.

Rodgers will relish the Rangers challenge (Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images)

There’s ways of dealing with pressure if you’re a football manager. When a club is interested in you and you want to go, you don’t slap down the speculation. Yet, slapping it down is exactly what Rodgers has done. He’s committed himself to Celtic and you have to imagine his sights are on beating Steven Gerrard’s Rangers to the title.

Rodgers won’t want to be known as the Celtic manager that ran scared when Rangers started to get stronger. Nicholas’ latest comments are only the latest in a series of odd opinions coming from a self-proclaimed Hoops supporter.

He’s already stated how Rangers are frightening the life out of him. That one was bad enough. If that’s the case, does he back the manager and help keep Celtic unified? Of course not, that’s not the kind of talk they want to hear down in England.

Instead, our former hero is all too eager to stir the pot. It’s disappointing, but if we’re all being honest, it’s certainly expected.