CELTIC assistant manager John Kennedy has revealed that outgoing manager Brendan Rodgers offered him the chance to move to Leicester City with him - but Kennedy said he never considered taking up the Northern Irishman's offer. Kennedy said: "There wasn’t a moment when I might have gone too."
And Damien Duff, who has been promoted to the role of first-team coach since Rodgers left the club, believes that working at Celtic means more to him than any other club. Duff said: "Celtic is more than a club. Here, you're fighting for more than that - you're fighting for a cause as well."
Former Leicester City captain Ian Wilson reckons Brendan Rodgers is the perfect choice to steady the ship at his old club. The ex-Scotland internationalist said: "I knew that Brendan was the one they wanted in but I’m still surprised that it’s all happened so quickly. But I think he’s just what Leicester need right now. He’s a fantastic coach and you can tells that he deals with players brilliantly."
Ex-Dundee manager Neil McCann thinks that Celtic fans' reaction to Rodgers quitting at Parkhead has been over the top and that the 46-year-old deserves more credit for everything he achieved at the club. "Maybe he thought this was the best thing for the club," said McCann. "I still find the banner [where Celtic fans said Rodgers was swapping immortality for mediocrity] and some of the abuse he's taken astonishing. I felt the banner was a bit over-the-top. Seven out of seven is a pretty good return."
Former Celtic defender Jackie McNamara insisted that Celtic are in Neil Lennon’s blood as he hailed the former club captain and head coach as the perfect man to fill the void left by Rodgers. He said: "Celtic are in Neil’s blood. He loves the club and enjoys the pressures and everything that goes with being Celtic manager. I’m sure he would love to still be playing for them – but managing is the next best thing!"
McCann has also revealed that he believes that Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos is the best forward in Scotland. McCann said: "He is a proper No.9. He can hold it up, run the channel and is very good in the air despite not being that big. He wouldn’t be much bigger than me but he is powerful. And he loves a fight."
The Herald's Graeme McGarry reckons that Motherwell's controversial goal against Celtic on Sunday - and the resulting fallout - has revealed that it's about time footballers stopped being held to account for not following the unwritten rules of the game.
The Scottish FA and SPFL have been warned that support for Strict Liability in Holyrood is growing and told that they haven’t done enough to tackle sectarianism within the game. Sports Minister Joe FitzPatrick said: "The justice system does have a role because many of these comments are against the law and it’s for the justice system to look at."
The Herald's James Cairney thinks that Scottish football is crying out for Strict Liability, but doesn't think it will be implemented any time soon as clubs would have to vote against their own finanical interests to do so.
The Union Bears, a Rangers supporters group, are planning a number of protests at Ibrox between now and the end of the season following a dispute between themselves and the club about the possibility of moving to a different part of the stadium and bringing in a safe standing section.
Dundee defender Darren O'Dea has insisted that Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos takes more than he dishes out. "He’s a good player and I always enjoy playing against him," revealed O'Dea. "He’s up for a scrap and gets a name for going over the top but probably takes more punishment than he gives out."
Hibernian striker Marc McNulty is hoping to throw a spanner in the works for the man that brought him to the club, former Hibs boss Neil Lennon, when the pair meet at Easter Road on Saturday for the Scottish Cup quarter final. McNulty said: "It’s great to hear that [Lennon talked highly of him], especially from someone like Neil. It would have been great to work under him but as I have said football is a funny game and things change very quickly."
Hamilton's George Oakley said he is delighted with the impact he has made in Lanarkshire since joining the club from Inverness in January. Oakley said: "I came down from Inverness to show what I can do and that is what I am doing. I have scored three goals [in five appearances] and I just want to show I can play at this level."
Fulham manager Claudio Ranieri has been relieved of his duties at Craven Cottage a little over three months after being given the job, with Scott Parker set to take over the manager's role on a caretaker basis. Fulham chairman Shad Khan said: "Claudio's tenure at Fulham didn't produce the outcome we anticipated and needed when I appointed him as manager in November but, be assured, he is not solely to blame for the position we are in."
In rugby, Glasgow Warriors' Matt Fagerson is planning in following in the footsteps of his brother Zander after returning from injury. Matt said: "I looked at it as a good chance to take a break. I had a few problems with my knees, so I could give them a rest and I feel good now coming back into it."
And in athletics, Great Britain and Northern Ireland's European Athletics Championships captain Guy Learmonth has revealed that he was very nervous when he was asked to give a speech to his 48 team-mates. Learmonth said: "I was going to speak from the heart, not writing anything down. I’m not the sort of person who would read it from a sheet of paper. I wanted to be humble, be passionate, share bits and bobs of my story – and hopefully inspire."
Elsewhere, Aberdeen striker Sam Cosgrove has told the Scottish Sun that his side's fixture against Rangers this weekend is just what his team-mates need after their shock 2-0 home defeat to Accies midweek.
In an interview with the Daily Record, Hearts manager Craig Levein has called for his striker Uche Ikpeazu to recieve greater protection from opposition players when he plays.
And the Press and Journal are reporting that Ross County's top scorer Billy McKay will miss the remainder of the season after breaking his arm.
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