"Presumably Martin O'Neill had no inkling of what the coming hours would bring when he used a Monday radio appearance to talk up Hearts' prospects of winning the Scottish title for the first time since 1960. This is the time for Hearts, O'Neill said. The scale of reverberation around Brendan Rodgers's resignation is such that even the return of O'Neill to the Celtic dugout is not the most dramatic element."
"Instead, the lesserspotted Dermot Desmond broke cover to lacerate Rodgers. The attack felt personal and spiteful. This proved a sad and unseemly conclusion to Rodgers's second spell in Glasgow. So much so, in fact, that the third most successful manager in Celtic's history cannot now show his face at the stadium. Desmond appears to be a bad enemy to choose. Desmond's ferocious sentiment shone a light on recent months inside Celtic Park. The environment was toxic."
Martin O'Neill prematurely celebrated Hearts' title prospects before Brendan Rodgers's resignation produced wider fallout. Dermot Desmond publicly and harshly attacked Rodgers, describing the manager as selfserving and breaching trust, and making the situation personal. Desmond's denunciation highlighted a toxic environment inside Celtic Park and raised questions about why Rodgers was not removed earlier after a poor summer transfer window. Rodgers remained in post despite poor results, leaving Celtic trailing Hearts. Desmond blamed Rodgers for fuelling supporter protests against the board, while also condemning abusive behaviour directed at board members and their families.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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