Celtic: Looking To The Future - For Once...

Often in Celtic's long and glorious history, the club has failed to capitalise while on top. For example, after the centenary season when we decided not sign any outfield players whilst Rangers were spending millions. The result - years of mediocrity ahead. A more recent example game in January 2009, when in the middle of a fierce struggle for the title - those did used to happen, you know - we didn't push the boat out to sign Hibs forward Stephen Fletcher. The result - a tired Celtic team lost the title by virtue of not being able to score goals.

Those grim days seem to be in the past now, with the announcement of Brendan Rodgers' new four year deal at Celtic. Rodgers is the first manager at the club not to have a one year contract - he did at the start of the season - since Tony Mowbray, and the board and Rodgers must have come to the conclusion that as things are currently going so well, attendances are up, the team is playing its best football for a long time, its time to strike while the iron is hot, and keep Rodgers here for the foreseeable future.

Two other interesting news items that came out today: Firstly, season ticket prices for next season are up around £50, Celtic are obviously gambling that fans will want to pay a bit more to see high quality players, and secondly at the press conference Peter Lawwell stated the clubs' transfer policy will not broadly change, we will still hope to develop players to sell on for a big price tag.

The success that Rodgers has achieved at Celtic would have inevitably lead to rumours about him heading back down south, so it's good that Celtic have nipped those in the bid for the moment. Also if any club wanted to approach Rodgers they would have to give Celtic millions of pounds in compensation.

Celtic are building a nucleus for the future, with players like Tierney, Armstrong (hopefully) and Sinclair being here for years to come, so it makes sense that the club would want Rodgers here to keep the continuity going.

These are certainly interesting times at Celtic Park...