John Hartson admits he is delighted to see Brendan Rodgers back at Celtic Park - but he reckons there could still be a few banner protests from the Parkhead faithful.
The Northern Irishman returned to Parkhead on Monday, almost four and a half years after he left to take charge of Leicester.
In his time at the Foxes, he oversaw FA Cup glory in 2021 and back-to-back fifth-place finishes in the Premier League before things unravelled in his closing season, culminating in his sacking in April as they spiralled towards relegation.
Rodgers return was met with a positive reaction by fans, but the Green Brigade and other members of the standing section at Celtic Park, soon posted a photograph of the banner they displayed at Tynecastle 24 hours after he left for Leicester in February 2019.
The sign read: “You traded immortality for mediocrity. Never a Celt. Always a fraud.”
Hartson believes there could be similar protests during Rodgers' first couple of games in charge, but he believes that winning games will turn their mindset.
He told the Daily Record: “I’m not surprised Brendan opted for Celtic again. He was available and he looked at it and said he won’t be dragged away again. At that particular time he has his own reasons for leaving. If he wins back to back doubles at Celtic in his first two seasons then does a club like Tottenham come in for him? Will Manchester United come in for him?
“Does he then leave again? I think this time around he’s older, wiser and making better decisions so I think he’s here to stay this time, at least for the duration of his three-year contract.
“I also believe the club will back him as they believe they have got a good manager. I know principles and morals come into play and you may see a banner or two at Celtic Park in protest at Brendan’s return and I understand that.
“It will act as a reminder to Brendan of what he did the last time when he walked out of the side door. It was different with Ange as he stayed for the Scottish Cup Final and won the treble.
“If Brendan finds that winning formula and starts with a momentum then Celtic can ride that crest of a wave. We are not talking about a managerial novice, he’s an elite manager and he’s been over the course.”
Hartson also believes that Rodgers will bring his own style of play to Celtic and a result the era of 'Angeball' is well and truly over.
He added: “Brendan will bring in his own players, some managers inherit a squad and don’t have the budget to change things but the opposite is true at Celtic. He’s coming in with the intention of bringing new faces in and he’ll want two or three into the building who are his type of player. He’ll also tweak things slightly. Ange was stubborn with his 4-3-3 and was very successful with that.
“A lot of people questioned that, especially early on. That criticism was heard when Celtic played in Europe and were leaking so many goals on the counter-attack.
“I spoke to Ange many times before games and I asked him if he would ever change and he said, ‘absolutely not’. He said he believes in the system and he brings in the right players to play in that system.
“He had the full-backs pushing forward and creating an overload with the emphasis to get crosses into the box with a lone striker. It’s now Brendan’s prerogative and he won’t be coming in having been told he has to play like Ange.
“He’s an elite coach and he’s proven that. He won back-to-back Trebles, took Leicester City to a Europe Conference League semi-final and won the FA Cup with them even if it unravelled for him last season.
“I have no doubt he will tinker with that 4-3-3, he has players who have great energy and he is coming into a winning team and Celtic have gone all out for him.”
