Brendan Rodgers has issued a stark ultimatum to the Celtic board, making it abundantly clear that any extension to his contract hinges entirely on the club’s demonstrated ambition to push forward. This decisive stance by the Celtic FC manager underscores a critical period for the club’s strategic direction.

Currently in the final season of his initial three-year deal, Rodgers conveyed his resolute message directly to principal shareholder Dermot Desmond and chief executive Michael Nicholson. He emphasized his disinterest in merely “performing a maintenance job” at the Scottish giants, signifying a demand for proactive growth and investment in the squad’s future.

While the Northern Irishman reiterated his commitment to seeing out his existing contract, asserting he would not depart of his own accord before its expiration, the long-term prospects of his tenure at Parkhead remain shrouded in uncertainty. This high-stakes situation adds another layer of intrigue to the ongoing Contract Talks at the club.

Addressing queries about his contractual status prior to Celtic’s crucial William Hill Premiership opener against St Mirren, Rodgers revealed that he held a significant conversation with Desmond and Nicholson over the summer regarding the club’s current trajectory and future aspirations.

Despite the inherent challenges that come with management, both on and off the pitch since his arrival, Rodgers expressed his profound affection for Celtic. He affirmed his dedication to the club for the foreseeable future, irrespective of the duration, but firmly reiterated the necessity for collective ambition from every stakeholder involved.

The manager passionately articulated that his ambition is solely for the betterment of Celtic, not for personal gain. His singular focus is on enabling Celtic FC to achieve its maximum potential, striving for excellence and continued dominance in Scottish football and beyond.

Rodgers has, in recent weeks, been vocal about the urgent need to bolster Celtic’s attacking options through astute Football Transfers. The belated arrival of Shin Yamada was a welcome addition as a replacement for Kyogo Furuhashi, but the recent sale of Nicolas Kuhn to Como has exacerbated the existing deficit of wide players, particularly following Jota’s long-term knee injury suffered back in May.

Acknowledging the current transfer situation, Brendan Rodgers stated, “There’s no doubt I would have liked to have had players in now, but it’s not the case.” He maintained his focus on the present squad but underscored his responsibility to convince the club hierarchy of the pressing need for significant reinforcements to compete at the highest level of the Scottish Premiership and European competitions.