Irate fans, upset manager & weakened squad – how did Celtic find themselves here?

Celtic’s business in this transfer window “reeks of incompetence”. It’s an “absolute embarrassment.” Fans are “just disappointed” rather than “no longer surprised.”

The Scottish Premiership champions ‘ board are “actively managing a decline”, and the failure to significantly enhance the squad “feels like self sabotage”.

Brendan Rodgers’ departure as manager of the Glasgow outfit “would be justified in this time,” according to Rodgers, who has “proved again that they are not a serious football club.”

It’s impossible to imagine how angry Celtic fans are right now with the way things are going in the east end of the city.

The fans are revolting against the board for not investing. For doing the same thing, the manager has aimed a few barbs at his superiors.

And those fissures appear to be causing only one thing now, with Rodgers’ deal up and the season’s conclusion.

On the pitch, an expensively-mortifying Champions League exit and meek Old Firm performance ratched up the rage even more.

Rodgers and the Celtic fans’ frantic deadline day signings were unsuccessful.

Just one player – Tunisia winger Sebastian Tounekti – arrived, while Adam Idah was allowed to join Swansea despite Rodgers ‘ insistence a few days prior that the striker was going nowhere unless a replacement had been secured.

Celtic already needed one striker because Kyogo Furuhashi’s replacement, Kyogo Furuhashi, was unable to do so after leaving in January. They are now two short.

The mooted arrival of former Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho, who is now a free agent after his Sevilla contract was cancelled, will do little to quell fan anger.

Kasper Dolberg, a £8 million striker for Anderlecht, was on Celtic’s radar as they attempted to close a deal, but the Dane is reportedly set to make a return to Ajax.

In the final moments of the window, the Scottish champions were desperately searching.

Chelsea striker David Datro Fofana reportedly snubbed them in favour of English League One Charlton, only for that move to ultimately fall through. No dice were played either way when Sekou Mara from Strasbourg was linked further.

Only four of the 11 signings Celtic have this year appear to be starting positions in Rodgers’ strongest XI.

Tounekti, Benjamin Nygren, and Michel-Ange Balikwisha all appear to have been recruited with the intention of becoming regulars, while Kieran Tierney will play when he is fit.

The rest are young loanees, project players, or bench fillers.

It might be argued that it balances out given that this summer there were 11 first team squad members and 12 younger members.

Can Nicolas Kuhn and the long-term injured Jota be replaced by Tounekti, Nygren, or Balikwisha? Are Tierney and loanee Marcelo Saracchi an upgrade on Greg Taylor and Jeffrey Schlupp at left-back? Who will take Idah and Kyogo’s place?

Rodgers has only two striker options in attack: rookie summer signing Shin Yamada, Callum Osmand, who has been playing for the B team, and 22-year-old fringe player Johnny Kenny. Daizen Maeda will need to be moved from the left wing to fill the void.

And even Tounekti’s acquisition prompts questions. The 23-year-old clearly prefers the left despite having only eight games on the right while Rodgers is quoted as saying that the winger can “operate on both sides.”

Is there now a balance between Celtic’s overstocked left-sided players and the newly acquired Balikwisha, who looked reluctant to take players on on during his debut in Sunday’s derby draw at Ibrox?

Take all that into account and there is a strong case to be made that Celtic leave the window weaker than when it opened.

After calling for reinforcements numerous times for months, Kairat Almaty humiliated Rodgers’ side in ignominious fashion.

The manager might be forgiven for weighing the situation and his team before deciding that his reputation can only be harmed in the upcoming months due to the stringent Europa League and domestic demands that are currently looming.

Anything other than a 14th league title in 15 seasons will be unacceptable but will a man who has revelled in Champions League football in recent times feel fulfilled by yet more domestic dominance?

The Northern Irishman left Leicester City in the middle of a third campaign without a doubt.

Matt: Football is not the only source of frustration at Celtic. A disconnect has been forming between the club’s management and the supporters for years. There has been no attempt to bridge that gap. This is made worse by the AGM’s glib putdowns against the Old Firm. The wise Celtic supporters understand that this is just a distraction by stoking the division. It assumes we are stupid. Not at all.

Joe: The board consistently exhibits indecisiveness and stalling. Business should have been done several weeks ago. They have to pay the extra £40 million. No longer amused, but instead depressed once more.

Cam: Celtic’s approach in the transfer window is “hit and hope” at times. When the plan to bolster the squad actually should be in place before the window even opens, it lacks ambition throughout the entire window. Beyond the manager and the team, the scope is a club-wide issue.

Ed: The real shock for me here is the fans are surprised. This is repeating history. Although it’s a slightly worse case, we’ve all been aware of this before on occasion. Shameful at board level.

James: Celtic have once more demonstrated that they are not a serious football team. I used to think it was because the board lacked ambition. More alarmingly, it has become clear that they also lack the ability. Sadly, there won’t be any consequences. Nothing will change.

Charlie: Surprised, disappointed, but not overwhelmed. This is not consolidation; rather, it is not progress.

James: I think supporters should be told why the club is in the position it is at the moment. Is Rodgers in complete control over signings? If so, he must be held accountable and be asked why his big signings failed. There has to be more transparency between the board, manager, players and supporters.

Gordy: The only word that describes it is horrifying. We have searched for replacements for players who we were aware were leaving the entire summer. It leaves the club in a ridiculous situation, where we have a fantastic support base, a fantastic stadium, and bang average manager (for not pushing the board for what he knew he needed). The hiring team and the board are dishonest for putting us in this predicament.

Stephen: Everyone associated with the club has been greatly let down by the hiring team and the board. The decision to let Idah leave, after starting the day knowing we needed to add options up front, beggars belief and feels like self sabotage. Fans of Celtics are embarrassed and disappointed right now.

Benny, where do you begin? Ineptitude? Unlucky ? No, it’s board misconduct and haughtiness that have caused this abominable amateur behavior. The manager would be more than justified for walking away. Only words can adequately describe this window and others, shameful and embarrassing. This current squad’s upcoming matches in the Europa League drew my attention.