Brendan Rodgers admits Celtic exit door was closer than fans knew as he reveals original farewell plan

Brendan Rodgers has revealed he was intent on leaving Celtic at the end of his third campaign.

The Invincible Treble-winning boss departed halfway through the 2018/19 season when Leicester City and a return to the Premier League came calling.

His decision to bow out at a crucial stage of the club's quest for 10 In A Row left a lingering anger with supporters and Rodgers has repeatedly stressed he understood why.

But he's now admitted he was planning to quit just a few months later, a plan brought forward by Leicester's approach.

He told the Belfast Telegraph : “The original plan was to stay until the end of the season but then it changes and I made the decision to leave Celtic in what I felt was a really strong position.

“Obviously there was a lot said within Celtic, outside of Celtic and media but I’ll never let that ever diminish the amazing time I had there because for me it is all about the feeling.

"I understand Celtic people and supporters when I left. I totally get that because a loss of anything there is always sadness and anger and I totally get that and how I left it was the probably the shock element of it.

“I look back and think more of the amazing time I had not just on the pitch but off the pitch and the support I had and the friends we made.

"Living in Glasgow was an amazing experience. We travel up when we can and the experience will never be tainted by anything else.”