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Brendan Rodgers has stepped down from his position as Celtic head coach, with Martin O'Neill agreeing to a short-term return.

Rodgers, who returned for a another spell at Celtic Park in 2023, secured back-to-back championships, adding to his earlier title triumphs from 2017 and 2018.

Yet, the former Liverpool and Leicester City manager departs with the title-holders behind Hearts by eight points after 9 games of the current season.

A club announcement disclosed that the manager offered his departure, which was accepted with instant result.

The Desmond, the club's biggest investor, then added a blistering message of his own, accusing him of disruptive, deceptive, and self-serving behavior.

O'Neill, 73, managed Celtic from 2000-05, winning 3 Scottish top-flight championships, 3 Scottish Cups, and a League Cup trophy.

He will be accompanied by Shaun Maloney, who had two periods as a player with the club and holds coaching experience with Hibernian and Wigan Athletic.

Rodgers signed a 3-year deal on his comeback and repeatedly emphasized that he would fulfill the agreement, as his prior exit in February 2019 had caused so much bitterness.

After questioned about extending that agreement in August, he insisted there had been no formal offer.

However, the shareholder has now provided his side of events, stating the club were eager to retain Rodgers on past the conclusion of this season to confirm the team's full support and future dedication to him.

The Irish executive went on to say that his assertion that no proposal had been made was just false.

This campaign has unfolded against a background of anti-board demonstrations at Celtic Park, and he accused the manager of contributing to a toxic atmosphere.

Another feature in the opening stages of this season was the manager's apparent dismay over player dealings, with multiple references to disappointing signings over the off-season.

Commenting after the two-zero loss at Dundee on October 19, he said: There is no way you'll enter a competition and be given the access to a Honda Civic and tell 'I want you to perform it like a sports car'. It's not likely to occur.

But the shareholder wrote: Each footballer signed and every individual transferred during his tenure was done so with Brendan's complete knowledge, consent, and support. Every implication to the contrary is completely false.

That which has gone wrong recently was not because of our structure or model, but to a single individual's desire for self-protection at the expense of others.