Brendan Rodgers resigned in February 2019, a day before a crucial league game at Tynecastle and four days before a Scottish Cup quarterfinal at Easter Road. Celtic had around 24 hours’ notice that he could be moving, that was crucial in planning how to cope with two visits to Edinburgh that could have seen us out of a cup for the first time in almost three years and facing a crisis in the league.
I know there are a lot of raw memories from last season, but Neil Lennon stepped up big time then, and in the months that followed Rodgers’ departure, taking the next available five domestic trophies.
Neil wanted the job permanently, Celtic only wanted him on an interim basis, so they agreed that he would take the job until the end of the season on condition he was considered for the permanent role.
I spoke to ‘sources close to Celtic’ when those events were unfolding. It is fair to say that in late February 2019, few at Celtic expected Neil Lennon to get the gig come the end of the season. Having appointed footballing and commercial success in Rodgers, they hoped to be able to snag an equally qualified candidate.
What became evident over the three months that followed, is that Rodgers was an exception to the rule – he came because he was an actual Celtic fan, he moved on because he was also a football man, and that’s what 99% of the games’ heroes do, folks. There would be no box office manager this time.
Appetite for another over-achieving young European, like Ronny, was low. The spectre of the most intense person to walk the earth (from Cork) lurked, as ever. There were candidates who took small English clubs for a brief moment into the sun that is the Premier League, but none had managed a club of our size, with our challenges and expectation to win.
Unlike the deliberations in 2016, when Rodgers was appointed, no one felt hopeful at the direction of travel the recruitment process was going. No one at Celtic would ever say, “We ended up with Neil”, but it’s how I viewed it.
Despite how Eddie Howe is viewed in the rear view mirror, 99% of us were delighted at the prospect of him taking over in the summer, I wrote, “the best English manager in the game” at the time. When we return to the market after Howe’s rejection, it was roulette time. There was no indication Ange Postecoglou would be more successful than Ronny Deila or Neil Lennon, but as in February 2019, a second ‘Rodgers-type’ appointment was not going to happen.
Five months in, I cannot believe how well Ange has done. We are on a path I have faith in, recruiting talented players who excite and are within our budget. The crucial difference between Ange and Pedro Caixinha, who before coming to Glasgow took his club to the CONCACAF Champions League Final, is hard to spot.
They were both roulette wheel appointments, sometimes the ball lands on your number, more often it doesn’t. On the positive side, you get to spin the wheel, maybe there’s a Pep 2008 waiting for you, but that transition from Rodgers to Lennon, seven consecutive trophies to five consecutive trophies, was one for the ages. Replacing an entire management team midseason is a business interruption even an Ulster medical testing lab cannot whitewash.
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RIP Bertie.
Only had a chat with him once,in Benidorm .What a man,what a character .
Legend.
So ,so sad.
HH
https://fb.watch/9hk0lV-cq-/P
Brilliant
TBH at 924
As roughly the same age as you , you have expounded my own feelings towards “Mr Celtic”. As a youngster I was totally focused on Buzzbomb and wee Jinky, and it was only later that I appreciated the strengths of Bobby and Bertie.
Feeling kind of numb here.
Sincerest condolences to all of Berties family and his many friends
Ponsonby bottled it to interview George Galloway in Scotland’s May elections for STV, so it was left to purple tie pretender, Colin McKay, to interview, Alex Salmond.
Both BBC Scotland, and STV, were terrified of interviewing George Galloway, because both of these masonic fake news swamps, new that they would’ve had their arses handed to to them, probably in a career ending way for the unlucky journalists.
I say without any corrections, so far,……that,
100% of Celtic FC’s enemies are bricking their pants terrified of George Galloway !!!
And folk want a coward like Ponsonby brought in?
To do what? Lie to you some more, on behalf of DD?
100% of Celtic FC’s enemies are bricking their pants terrified of George Galloway !!!
This man has had 4 death threats in Scotland already this year, three of the death threats were made to George Galloway, whilst he was trying to get elected to the very dodgy Scots Parliament, and Ponsonby, as the top political guy for STV, said not a single word about any of these death threats to George Galloway.
100% of Celtic FC’s enemies are bricking their pants terrified of George Galloway !!!
So, Ponsonby is a huge beast in the anti-Celtic, Scottish media masonic swamp, his silence during the George Galloway death threats, suggest that Ponsonby, like ALL MSM journalists in Scotland, is a toy, a journalistic toy, who’ll say what he’s told to say, and when he’s told to say it, by his masonic swamp masters.
100% of Celtic FC’s enemies are bricking their pants terrified of George Galloway !!!
Aren’t there already enough masonic swamp creatures at Celtic Park, without adding puppet Ponsonby’s fat arse to the drain on resources?
100% of Celtic FC’s enemies are bricking their pants terrified of George Galloway !!!
Didn’t Ponsonby stand as a Libdem and fail to get elected?
A f*cken Libdem? Really?
100% of Celtic FC’s enemies are bricking their pants terrified of George Galloway !!!
What the f*ck is wrong with some people?
100% of Celtic FC’s enemies are bricking their pants terrified of George Galloway !!!
Bertie RIP. 💔 🙏 ⚽ 🏆 👏 💚
& heres me thinkin Ponsonby was a Celtic man.
A Poignant Day To Be A Celt…
What a huge and sad loss to the Celtic family.
Thoughts and prayers are with Bertie’s family and friends.
May he R. I. P.
HAIL HAIL
R.I.P. Lisbon Lion Bertie Auld.
Ive just read the news of his passing a few minutes ago as I havent been on the Blog or watched the news all weekend.
I met Bertie on many an occasion, and I had many great laughs with him.
R.I.P. Wee TEN THIRTY.
YWNA.
HH
Legend R.I.P.
Just found out late last night of Bertie’s passing.
A very sad time for Bertie’s family, friends and Celtic people everywhere.
Bertie told a story that just before a game against Rangers in the tunnel he was talking to John Greig.
Greig asked what’s yer win bonus?
Six quid say’s Bertie.
Our’s is a tenner say’s Greig.
But ours is guaranteed say’s the bold Bhoy.!
Love you Bertie.
Rest in peace.
YNWA Bertie Auld 🍀
ADI_DASSLER NOT FOR 2ND BEST on 15TH NOVEMBER 2021 4:57 AM
& heres me thinkin Ponsonby was a Celtic man.
He is.i spent the night of 1995 Cup final in his company for an hour in Heraghtys.An unquestionable tim.
HH
George Galloway to Celtic for what to bore the pants of us with his phoney accent and policy’s,He like millions of Socialist are multimillionaires promise you the earth,and the voter ends up with pittance,look at the state of the supposed to be Socialist Party Labour ,they are finished here and in England and Wales,Naw you can keep Galloway ,I would have Bernard Ponsoby any day ,and R I P Wee Bertie a real character and a marvellous football Player.
AN TEARMANN on 15TH NOVEMBER 2021 9:15 AM
He used to be a regular in the Welcome Inn I think.
RIP Bertie
A bona-fide HERO for our side.
HH
BGFC
AN TEARMANN on 15TH NOVEMBER 2021 9:15 AM
ADI_DASSLER NOT FOR 2ND BEST on 15TH NOVEMBER 2021 4:57 AM
& heres me thinkin Ponsonby was a Celtic man.
He is.i spent the night of 1995 Cup final in his company for an hour in Heraghtys.An unquestionable tim.
HH
——-
Bernard had family from the Garngad.
D :)
Sad, sad news of Celtic legend Bertie’s passing.
Bit before my time as a player but as gallus a ‘wegian as you could get.
Must be lovely to have had such a beaming, warm personality as he had – and to know how much he was loved for it and for his rugged playing style.
RIP Bertie – YNWA.
I attended a charity function in the Jock Stein lounge a few years ago. Bernard Ponsonby was one of the guest speakers. An ansolute gent and Celtic to the core.
TIMBHOY163
George Galloway to Celtic for what to bore the pants of us with his phoney accent and policy’s
Cut Ordinary Joe some slack. He is obviously obsessed with Gorgeous George and has a true man-love going on there.
I suspect it was the tight-fitting cat suit that did it for him. Poor Joe.
Great words on Bertie..
https://allybegg.com/bertie-auld-rip/
ERNIE LYNCH on 15TH NOVEMBER 2021 10:21 AM
AN TEARMANN on 15TH NOVEMBER 2021 9:15 AM
He used to be a regular in the Welcome Inn I think.
—————-
Where was that place again? Rings a bell but can’t place it.
David66
Good to see you post and well done on your social enterprise and giving employment.As you and guyfawkesforeverahero point out they play an important part in local community.
I heard he had connections with the Garngad(who husnae:-)) In and around the Celticsphere he is a tim.👍and was enjoying our first trophy since 89,an absolutely bouncing pub,full of smiling singin celts(I could observe this being ‘wee’ and no been able tae see a fing but getting served making finger/number gestures and pointing to tap:-))).
Bognorbhoy, that is a wonderful read you have posted .Thankk you for posting it. A really heartfelt article about Bertie by Ally Begg.
new article posted.