TWO YEARS AGO, I stated that our chums across the Clyde were running scared of Brendan Rodgers.
I added that terrified might be a more appropriate expression.
The brown brogue brigade were not exactly ecstatic that Brendan Rodgers had returned to Celtic. They were aware, of course, the Irishman had been a serial winner in his previous stint in the east end of Glasgow; seven successive honours, including two back-to-back trebles.
The Govan suits may well have had a small celebration somewhere amid the so-called famed marble halls when the intensely popular and hugely successful Ange Postecoglou had announced he was quitting their foes in the aftermath of his own domestic clean sweep.
THE LAST HURRAH…Ange Postecoglou glances at the newly-won Scottish Cup, the fifth and final honour during his impressive two-year spell as Celtic manager.
The Scottish Cup triumph over Inverness Caley Thistle at a sunkissed Hampden on Saturday June 3 brought Celtic a world record eighth treble and the Greek/Australian’s fifth trophy in two years of extraordinary transformation at Parkhead.
Beaming grins across the city were somewhat dimmed, the chortles stifled when Rodgers was flagged up as Postecoglou’s successor.
A couple of years ago, the Ibrox club led the championship parade with 55 flags, two more than Celtic.
Okay, I realise a number of their honours were annexed by nefarious means following some financial jiggery-pokery by those in power at the time.
Yes, there is a solid and valid case all prizes gained during a prolific and corrupt period between 2001 and 2010 should have been withdrawn. Those honours were achieved by unlawful means.
HMRC eventually caught up with the club’s misuse of an Employee Benefits Trust (EBTs) which had been set up to avoid paying tax and national insurance on player and staff salaries.
For their prolonged dodgy deeds, the Ibrox club were banished to the naughty step for a few years. However, crucially, they were not stripped of titles or other trophies won by felonious means during that time span.
CROWNING GLORY…Brendan Rodgers with Celtic’s 55th title.
That was then and this is now. There has been an almighty shake-up in Govan, from top to bottom. The cobwebbed members of the board, some of whom were still gibbering on about ‘Rangers being the Establishment Club’, have been removed.
Lock, stock and barrel, they have been replaced by an American consortium, 49ers Enterprises.
The old directors had every right to shake in their antiquated footwear when Rodgers turned up at Celtic on a three-year deal. They are now on the outside looking in.
Michael Beale might have felt a little threatened, too. The manager was dismissed in brutal fashion – the same treatment dished out to his predecessor Giovanni van Bronckhorst – three months into the new season. Former midfielder Steven Davis kept the seat warm in a caretaker basis before Philippe Clement popped up in mid-October.
The Belgian was hailed as the greatest thing since sliced bread when he led the team to a League Cup in December, beating Aberdeen 1-0 in an awful finale.
Clement went the way of Beale, Davis and the dodo when he was sacked in February this year after it had become clear he wasn’t a miracle worker, after all. With the team floundering 13 points adrift of Rodgers’ Hoops, the po-faced team boss was axed after a 2-0 loss to St Mirren which had followed Scottish Cup expulsion from second-tier strugglers Queen’s Park at the same Govan venue.
THE WAY WE WERE…Brendan Rodgers and his former Ibrox counterpart Philippe Clement.
Barry Ferguson, rated one of the worst managers in the history of Alloa Athletic, was pitched in, but there was no chance Wee Barry or his chums were seen as permanent residents of the Govan dug-out. It was P45s all round once more and Russell Martin, axed by Southampton, is now in charge.
With refreshing honesty, the one-time Scotland international central defender admitted his team “were lucky to get a draw” in the 1-1 scramble with Motherwell at Fir Park yesterday as they conceded two points at the first hurdle.
Like Beale and Clement, Martin could be in for a bumpy ride.
That, of course, will be met with complete indifference across the city. Celtic have their own challenges to meet and overcome.
Let’s put aside the hooha and hullabaloo skirting the manager’s contract situation. Let’s maintain our laserbeam focus on success at home and abroad.
Two years ago, I emphasised that those in power across the city were living in dread of a second time-around Rodgers conquering all to accomplish three successive championships which would propel the total of league flags to 56. A collection of crowns naturally all untainted, achieved by fair means and without a hint of any fiscal skulduggery.
Govan’s dearly departed were jealous and protective of their 55 flags. But I detected an anxiety settling in an area across the river; trembling thumbs were hovering in the proximity of panic buttons.
And so it has come to pass, dear reader.
GREEN FOR GO…Brendan Rodgers is ready for another award-winning campaign.
Celtic meet St Mirren in Paradise this afternoon as they kick off their assault on a 56th crown. The crusade will get underway the moment that ball rolls off the centre spot at 4.30pm.
The worst nightmares of some folk across Glasgow a couple of years ago are about to become a reality.
For others, the champagne is already on ice. It’s been a long time since Celtic led in the championship count.
Come in, No.56, your time is now.
Enjoy the season, folks. Let’s get ready to celebrate!
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