Brendan Rodgers nibbling back at Celtic fans left him looking wounded and shows patience is running out - Keith Jackson

There were already 70 million reasons why Celtic’s board can’t afford to keep their hands stuffed in their pockets before the passing of Thursday night’s transfer deadline.

But, on Saturday at just around teatime, it became 70 million and one. Because when his frustrations bubbled over and Brendan Rodgers had a nibble back at Celtic’s fans and for the first time the manager left himself looking wounded and a little bit vulnerable

It is not like Rodgers to make such a misstep which just goes to show that his patience is running out and maybe even dangerously close to becoming exhausted. This is a man who revels in the kind of unconfined adoration he enjoyed during his first spell in charge.

That’s not unusual and nor is it a character flaw. Who doesn’t want to feel appreciated in their place of work? But it should come as a genuine cause for concern nonetheless because if Rodgers feels he’s not getting the same sense of job satisfaction second time around, then where exactly does this relationship go from here?

He knew he faced a battle to win over hearts and minds when he agreed to take on the task of replacing Ange Postecoglou in the summer. But Rodgers wouldn’t have put himself in such a precarious position unless, deep down, he truly believed he would have them eating out of his hand again after his first few months in charge.

Instead, they are growling at him in a manner which suggests one day soon they might be more inclined to bite it off. And that’s despite the fact he has their team sitting five points clear at the top of the table. Rodgers certainly isn’t feeling the love of a section of fans who sing songs about being Celtic supporters, through and through.

Well, if they consider themselves to be the faithfuls