Brendan Rodgers and Celtic: How an irreparable collapse led to a brutal break-up

Fans were outraged, now seeing him as more of a martyr who might be carried on his shield because his directors did not support his vision for success.

The leak was toxic, of course, and was intended to harm Rodgers, which it did. He called for an investigation to be opened and the guilty to be held accountable. If there is an investigation we will not hear more about it.

At that point it was clear that Rodgers was losing the support of those above him.

Regular complaints about transfers were followed by a miserable start to the season. A poor Champions League exit, flat domestic performances, and a stench in the air.

Blame has been shifted. When Celtic lost to Dundee a few weeks ago he said: “You can’t get the keys to a Honda Civic and drive it like a Ferrari.”

If Rodgers had said that after losing a big Champions League game, it would have been controversial enough, but after losing to Dundee – with a fraction of Celtic’s resources – it was sad. Later, he doubled down on that.

The fans, increasingly tired of excuses, were not convinced, but if it was a battle between Rodgers and the Celtic board, in their eyes, Rodgers was still a surefire winner.

Nothing is heard from Desmond, as usual, but the story of his working life tells us that he does not appreciate his people going rogue. Rodgers comment With Rodgers’ comment, Desmond’s whiskers should start dancing.

On Monday, in the wake of a loss to Hearts that put Celtic eight points behind Derek McInnes’ side, it was the end of the game. Desmond opened his laptop. Suddenly, relentlessly, almost startling in its intensity, he unburdened himself.

There is no doubt that elements of what Rodgers did and said were self-serving. He has dropped hints that some players were signed without his full approval, something Desmond categorically denies.

He said as recently as Sunday that he had never been more determined to fix things because he was right in the here and now, but it’s clear the trust is gone. In both directions.

Divorce is the wisest course of action. This was an irreparable breakdown. Inappropriate and embarrassing.

However, Rodgers made good points, and fans, despite turning on him a bit in the wake of recent performances, were fully behind him in other areas.

Some will now see him as a victim, a sacrificial lamb, a man who had the courage to speak out about the problems the club was facing and for which he was sacked. Desmond silenced and humiliated him.

It’s a worthwhile explanation, but they were both parties involved in this breakup.

Through his scathing words, Desmond makes this breakup fierce. We will hear back from Rodgers in due course, but his era is now over. No return this time, not even a chance for a proper farewell. A sad, but inevitable, ending.