Focus reverts to off-field matters for Celtic as fans and board prepare to meet

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers will continue trying to achieve unity with performances and results but focus will quickly return to off-field matters during the international break.

Rodgers was delighted to be able to share a big moment with supporters as Daizen Maeda completed a comeback against Motherwell in stoppage time on Sunday to seal a 3-2 win with a diving header.

However, there remained clear signs of disaffection with the club’s board despite a planned meeting between directors and fans due to take place 24 hours later.

Celtic chief executive Michael Nicholson and finance director Chris McKay agreed to be part of a delegation to meet with supporter groups in Monday’s meeting, a move that saw a silent protest called off one game into a three-match campaign.

But the pair were the target of a banner protest in front of their seats in the second half of Sunday’s William Hill Premiership clash as some fans called for them to resign and appeared to dismiss the worth of the planned meeting.

A larger pre-match banner declared the Celtic board “unfit for purpose” and chants aimed at directors, and chairman Peter Lawwell in particular, were aired after Motherwell striker Apostolos Stamatelopoulos netted the first of his two goals.

Fans are demanding answers over the club’s ambition and transfer strategy after a summer in which a failure to secure attacking targets preceded and even proceeded a Champions League play-off exit.

Speaking after the game, Rodgers said: “I see myself as trying to see if we can pull it together on the pitch, which can help unify everything.

“Because it’s what Celtic is about. Celtic is that feeling. And clearly the feeling isn’t quite right across the club. It’s not right.

“However, on the pitch you have to win and you have to continue to win. And that’s why I’m so proud of the players.

“When we went 2-1 down, a couple of misplaced passes, you need to hold your nerve and deal with pressure.

“And the players found that calmness and found that ability to create the opportunities. Then eventually one goes in for us.

“It’s amazing for the supporters. Because even though we’ve only lost once this season so far, it’s still been a challenging summer to this point.

“But that’s for them and it’s for them to enjoy that. Because we thoroughly deserved it.”

Winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha delivered the cross that led to Maeda’s winner after a slow start to his Celtic career and Rodgers feels the moment will help all of his new signings appreciate the potential at the club.

“I think that’s all part of the experience here for those guys to understand,” he said. “The guys who have been around know the difficulties and the pressures that are there. It’s that feeling that you get. That’s what Celtic is.

“And to win a game against a team that’s very well coached in how they play, that was a really good win for us. And it will give them a huge boost.”