Tieless conspiracy theory jovially dismissed by Celtic manager

During Celtic’s 2-0 victory in the North-East last Sunday, Rodgers was spotted in the dugout sporting his usual suit and trousers but notably without the club tie he typically dons on matchdays.

Questioned about the rare sight, the Celtic manager light-heartedly dismissed any hidden meaning, putting it down to the recent spell of warm Scottish weather.

“It is unbelievable. Someone here has told me that I am supposedly sending messages!”

Speaking via Celtic’s official YouTube channel, the Irishman said: “It is unbelievable. Someone here has told me that I am supposedly sending messages! I am basically like everybody else. See, when it is really hot, you either take off your jacket or your tie, and when it’s cold, you wear a jumper.”

“So I remember last year I wore a jumper. People say he’s sending a message. What message? It was bloody freezing. I was standing with a jumper on and a big coat, and it was up to there, and I’m fine.”

Rodgers added: “And last week, there’s two grounds that I’ve realised in my career that are absolutely boiling, right? If you get it at the at the time and the sun’s hitting your dugout. Pittodrie and Preston. I went there once before, and I got absolutely roasted on the day, and Pittodrie’s the same because the sun comes and it hits you.

“This is modern football, eh?”

“So I thought, well, I’ve either got to take off my jacket or take off my tie. So I took my tie off. I don’t know what message that is. I’m just warm. This is modern football, eh? So, I’m sorry if I’ve wasted people’s energy and time on being wrong, but I was just a wee bit hot, and that’s why I wore no tie.”

When asked if the tie would return for Friday night’s clash with Falkirk in the Premier Sports League Cup last 16, Rodgers jokingly replied: “I’ll look at the temperature! It should be back on tomorrow. Yes, listen, I’ve always been the shirt and tie man.”

“My father always brought me up, be respectful”

“My father always brought me up, be respectful. When he sent me on trial to clubs when I was younger, 13, 14, he would send me away in a shirt and tie. From that, I’ve always represented him. So, it’s always shirt and tie where it can be.”

It could be Brown Brogues Brendan wears tomorrow night instead of his usual Tom Ford’s, but I wouldn’t care what outfit the manager chooses as long as gets us to the quarter-final.

Conor Spence