Green Brigade in Celtic no show for James Forrest testimonial as Brendan Rodgers first home game swerved

The Green Brigade are not inside Celtic Park for James Forrest's testimonial against Athletic Bilbao as the Celtic fan group opted to miss Brendan Rodgers' first home game back.

Forrest has been recognised by the Hoops faithful with a testimonial against the La Liga side for his 14 trophy-laden years at Celtic and the game marked the first game at Parkhead since Rodgers agreed to return to Glasgow's east end. However, there was a noticable absence in the stands as punters pointed out the controversial group were not in the stands.

The Green Brigade were left incensed by Rodgers 2019 exit to Leicester but the anger from the vast majority of fans appears to have waned since the Irishman was appointed as Ange Postecoglou 's successor. At the time of his departure, the Green Brigade unveiled a banner stating: 'You traded immortality for mediocrity. Never a Celt, always a fraud’ and they would post that image of the banner to social media moments after the Irishman was announced as boss on a three-year-deal.

Before the game, Rodgers told Sky Sports that he was unfazed by a potential backlash from the Green Brigade during the testimonial. He said: "There's no apprehension. I made a decision to leave which I said before, I didn't regret. Celtic did well after I left.

"I had a good spell at Leicester and we won some trophies. I come back and I've had great support from the Celtic supporters. Listen, you won't always get everyone onside, but I think my experience in life tells me that people forgive when it suits, and they forget when it's convenient."

Follow Record Sport on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-the minute breaking news, video and audio on the SPFL, the Scotland national team and beyond. You can