Rodgers Resigns; O'Neill Named Interim Manager

Brendan Rodgers has resigned as Celtic manager with immediate effect after a poor run of results and mounting boardroom tension, including sharp criticism from major shareholder Dermot Desmond over his conduct and communication on transfers and his contract. The club has appointed Martin O'Neill and Shaun Maloney as interim managers while it begins the search for a permanent successor; O'Neill began his short-term stint with a 4-0 win over Falkirk. Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna has been widely linked with the vacant job but says he has had no contact with Celtic and remains focused on his long-term project at Ipswich. Reported candidates for the permanent role include Ange Postecoglou, Craig Bellamy, Scott Brown and Robbie Keane, though sources close to some have downplayed immediate returns. Celtic now face an ongoing recruitment process to arrest their slide in the Scottish Premiership.