Brendan Rodgers has branded whoever leaked information to a newspaper suggesting he was trying to engineer an exit from Celtic as 'cowardly'.
Last Friday night, it emerged in a prominent media outlet that 'high ranking insiders' at Parkhead were growing unhappy with the Northern Irishman.
The report strongly suggested that Rodgers had one eye on his next move, with his current deal at Celtic due to expire at the end of the 2025/26 season.
Rodgers spoke to the media at Lennoxtown this afternoon ahead of this Sunday's trip to Rugby Park to take on Stuart Kettlewell's Kilmarnock.
And he has called on an investigation into the briefing of information to the media.
Asked about last week's situation, he said: "It was interesting when I was shown that. My honest take? I thought it was a cowardly action from whoever it is.
"Was I surprised by it? Not really. I was briefed upon the last time I was here, when I left, and now that I've come back."
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Rodgers was asked if he knew who it was, he said, "No.
"I don't think there's any doubt. If you are sitting where I am with the weight I have on my shoulders, it's so important to feel supported. Whoever is briefing, they can come here and speak to me at any time.
"We all will have frustrations at times in our life, but I would never think of going and bringing that to the fore to hurt someone else. Especially someone who didn't have to come back but wanted to come back."
On his future, he added: "It hasn't really changed from the last time. I would love to stay here longer, I've had informal chats with Dermot (Desmond) and Michael (Nicholson) but no offer to consider.
"I guaranteed I would do three years, and if going forward if I do get offered a deal, there does have to be conditions in that, that allow me to work the best I can."
More to follow.
