Former Celtic director Brian Dempsey urges Celtic to reconnect with fans. Meanwhile, Rangers face potential costs for dismissing their coach, and conflicting narratives emerge around Hamza Igamane’s departure. David Weir may rejoin Everton, and Hibernian misses a player due to international duty.
Brian Dempsey, a former director of Celtic, has voiced his concerns over the growing disconnect between the club and its supporters. Dempsey, who played a crucial role in rescuing the Scottish champions in 1994, is urging the club's hierarchy to take immediate steps to regain the fans' goodwill. He emphasizes the urgent need to demonstrate genuine ambition to the Celtic faithful, who have grown increasingly disillusioned.
Dempsey's plea comes amid reports suggesting that Brendan Rodgers, Celtic's current manager, is attracting interest from clubs across England and Europe. With Rodgers entering the final year of his contract, Celtic faces a significant challenge in retaining his services beyond the current season. This uncertainty surrounding the managerial position further fuels the fans' anxiety about the club's future direction.
Meanwhile, across Glasgow, Rangers are grappling with their own set of challenges. Speculation is mounting regarding the future of their head coach, Russell Martin. Reports indicate that dismissing Martin could cost Rangers a substantial sum, potentially reaching £600,000 in salary. However, more severe scenarios, like one year's salary (£1.2m) or the full remaining cost of his contract (around £3.3m), are considerably less likely. The financial implications of such a decision, coupled with the cost of replacing his backroom staff, could deter Rangers from making a change.
In other news, a contrasting narrative has emerged regarding Hamza Igamane's departure from Rangers to Lille. Sources close to the Moroccan forward suggest that his decision to leave was influenced by a perceived lack of confidence from the Ibrox staff. This version of events contradicts earlier reports that attributed Igamane's exit to his desire to leave the club or his refusal to come off the bench against St Mirren.
Image source, SNSBrian Dempsey helped attract major shareholder Dermot Desmond to Celtic
Former Rangers manager Philippe Clement offered a different perspective on Igamane's time at Ibrox, praising the striker's humility and eagerness to improve under his guidance. Clement's comments further complicate the narrative surrounding Igamane's departure and raise questions about the conflicting accounts.
Elsewhere, David Weir, a former Rangers and Scotland defender, is reportedly nearing a return to Everton as part of their recruitment team. Weir's potential move comes after his departure from Brighton & Hove Albion, where he served as technical director for seven years. His experience and knowledge of the game could prove valuable to Everton as they seek to strengthen their squad.
In other Scottish football news, Airdrieonians' new team boss, Danny Lennon, has revealed the mental challenges he faced during his time away from management. Lennon shared that the struggle to get back into the game led him to seek solace in Malaysia.
Hibernian, meanwhile, were without midfielder Miguel Chaiwa in their recent match against Dundee United due to his late return from international duty with Zambia. Chaiwa's absence was felt by the team as they battled to a draw.
Finally, former Celtic centre-half Gustaf Lagerbielke has found himself in a peculiar situation after being officially declared a missing person by a Dutch council. This unexpected turn of events comes despite Lagerbielke's recent transfer to Braga in Portugal, leaving many puzzled.
These stories highlight the ever-changing landscape of Scottish football, where on-field performances are often intertwined with off-field drama and intrigue. From concerns about fan support to player departures and managerial uncertainty, the clubs face a multitude of challenges as they strive for success.