Celtic need 'leader' after Brendan Rodgers departure, but will some 'think twice' after Dermont Desmond outburst?

Brendan Rodgers resigned as manager of Celtic on Monday, sparking turmoil at the club, with major shareholder Dermot Desmond issuing an extraordinary statement accusing him of fostering a "toxic atmosphere" during his departure.

In response, Martin O'Neill and Shaun Maloney have taken over as interim managers, leading the team to a 4-0 victory over Falkirk in their first Scottish Premiership match without Rodgers, which helped reduce Hearts' lead at the top of the table; however, O'Neill, aged 73, has stated he is only a short-term solution, and Maloney has ruled himself out of the permanent role.

Sky Sports pundit Chris Sutton criticized Desmond's "vicious" and "blistering" attack on Rodgers, suggesting that it could deter high-profile managers from considering the Celtic job due to fears of reputational damage if similar fallout occurs, potentially hampering the club's recruitment efforts.

As the search for a permanent manager continues, candidates like Kieran McKenna and Craig Bellamy are being considered, but a return for Ange Postecoglou appears unlikely, raising questions about whether Celtic can attract a manager of the required calibre after years of dominance in Scottish football.