BRENDAN RODGERS has a reputation for making up his mind fairly quickly about a player’s ability.
So, please spare a thought for the Celtic striker who was heading for the exit – after only 27 DAYS.
That distinction fell to one-time England international forward Carlton Cole who was given the boot by Rodgers who wasted no time in handing the player his P45 shortly after he had taken over at Parkhead in May 2016.
The 33-year-old misfiring marksman scored only one goal in five appearances after Ronny Deila had signed him following his release in October 2015 from West Ham where he had spent nine years. His solitary strike came in a 3-0 Scottish Cup win over Stranraer at Stair Park in January 2016.
THE FIRST – AND LAST – HURRAH…Carlton Cole heads in his solitary Celtic goal in the Hoops’ 3-0 Scottish Cup win at Stranraer in January 2016.
Rodgers had only been in the job 27 days when the seven times-capped forward was released eight months into his original two-year deal.
After getting the elbow from the Irishman, Cole had a brief and goalless stint in the States with Sacramento Republic where he played only four games before returning to the UK.
That was followed by a disastrous spell in Indonesia with Persib Bandung where he failed to score in five appearances and had his contract terminated.
Cole, who played for eight different clubs after starting his career at Chelsea in 2001, had a trial with AFC Wimbledon in January 2018 before announcing his retirement three months later.
