Brendan Rodgers hails 'brave' Celtic supremo Dermot Desmond as boss lifts the lid on crunch talks over next season

Brendan Rodgers has hailed Parkhead supremo Dermot Desmond for having the guts to bring him back – and sticking with him during the tough times.

The Celtic boss will get his hands on the Premiership trophy on Saturday after the Hoops wrapped up the title in style at Kilmarnock in midweek. Rodgers admitted it was a big call from Desmond to tempt him back to Scotland with a section of fans still unhappy about the manner of his departure for Leicester City in 2019.

There were also periods of pressure this season when Celtic’s title bid seemed to falter. But Rodgers is grateful he’s always had the backing of the Parkhead powerbroker. He said: “The support I’ve been given has been unwavering right throughout the season. I’ll always think a lot of Dermot bringing me back, because that was a brave decision from him and the board to take me back, knowing it maybe wasn’t going to be universally acclaimed bringing me back, no matter how successful I had been.

“But they had the foresight and the acumen to be able to convince me to come back, and I’m so glad that I did do. You then have to deal with those situations like you said, but it’s all worth it. I wouldn’t change it, because it makes me a better coach and a better manager having to go through what I have gone through this season. I know that we will be back bigger and stronger for next season.”

Rodgers revealed he’s already plotting with Desmond for next season with the new look Champions League high on his hit list. He said: “We’d a really positive board meeting this morning. So we’re planning and looking forward and that’s always the case. But that’s not for now.

“We’ll have all summer to talk about the transfers and everything else. We’re very clear on what it is that we