Saturday 21 May 2016 12:17, UK
Celtic can become a "big club again" following the appointment of Brendan Rodgers as their new manager, according to Soccer Saturday pundit Charlie Nicholas.
Rodgers was confirmed as Ronny Deila's successor on Friday and has signed a 12-month rolling contract with the Scottish Premiership champions.
Nicholas, who had two spells with Celtic during the 1980s and 1990s, said: "This excites me and I don't have an issue with the 12-month rolling contract.
"Let's face it, if Brendan is successful, big clubs will come after him and so be it, because that means Celtic would have been successful.
We (Celtic) have to grow now, we have to expand, we have to become a big club again and I think this gives them the best opportunity to do so.
"We also have a manager who has a vision and is strong enough to say to (Celtic chief executive) Peter Lawwell, 'you're the accountant, you do the numbers, you tell me the budget, but let me bring in the players'.
"That had to change and I am pretty sure now that Brendan will change that philosophy. We have to grow now, we have to expand, we have to become a big club again and I think this gives them the best opportunity to do so.
"Brendan is probably the type of character who said to the Celtic board, 'if you want to grow and you want me to make the club grow and become big again, then this is the way it has got to be'."
Rodgers is yet to win a major domestic trophy during his management career, but led Liverpool to within two points of the Premier League title in the 2013-14 campaign.
With Rangers set to re-join the Scottish elite from next season, the pressure on Rodgers to hit the ground running will no doubt be high as Celtic chase a sixth successive league title, as well as qualification for the Champions League group stage.
Nicholas added: "Two weeks ago, or even seven days ago, I didn't think Celtic were strong enough to really go for a marquee signing because you always worry whether we're going to step aside and let the new guy takeover the transfers.
"I know that everyone has to work to a budget, I don't have a problem with that. But with Brendan, the style of play and everything he does, tells you that he can educate players and make them better players.
"I'm fed up with Celtic going for the players that just haven't proven themselves and stumbling over the line, especially with the situation with Rangers."
