Stephen McGowan reveals Celtic rejected Brendan Rodgers extending his stay at Celtic club as manager

Stephen McGowan believes Brendan Rodgers could yet extend his stay at Celtic – but insists only the man himself knows what comes next.

Speaking on the Graham Spiers Press Box podcast, the Herald journalist weighed in on mounting calls for Celtic to hand their manager a new deal beyond the current three-year agreement, which runs until summer 2026.

Rodgers has publicly reaffirmed his commitment to the original terms, and former players such as Paul Hartley have urged the club to get him signed up long term.

He’s nearly completed two years with Celtic, joining in the summer of 2023. Back then, he assured fans, who were sceptical about his return, that he would see out his contract unless he was removed from his position.

But McGowan was more cautious than others when talking about the manager’s future.

“I think if anybody pretends they know the answer to that, they would be kidding themselves.

“There’s only one man who can answer that question.

Maybe he doesn’t know himself as yet.

“Maybe he’s still debating and swittering in his own mind.

“I don’t think it’s out of the question. I mean, I speak to colleagues who are convinced that he’s off-scale, that he’ll go next summer.

“Let’s be honest, that will be five and a half years by that point at one club.

“That’s quite a long time, quite a long shelf life for a Celtic arrangers manager, even over two spells.

And McGowan is right, the only man who knows what Rodgers is doing next summer is Brendan himself. He is looking at making a few big changes at the club this summer to freshen things up. Although, he has warned that if the players don’t change, it will have toi be the manager.