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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
Sport
Alan Galindo

Brendan Rodgers in Celtic contract vow as he opens up on regret over Hoops fans' hurt at exit

Brendan Rodgers has promised he will be at Celtic for at least three years - unless he is axed.

The new Hoops gaffer angered fans during his first stint at the club after he left mid-season to return to the English Premier League with Leicester City. Four years on he is back in the Parkhead hot seat as Ange Postecoglou's successor and has vowed he will be in charge for the duration of his contract.

He enjoyed a trophy laden spell during his time at the club previously as he bids to do it all again while making a splash on the European stage, Addressing the media in his first press conference since his return north of the border, he said: “I’ve signed for three years and I guarantee I’ll be here for three years unless I get emptied before that.”

READ MORE: Brendan Rodgers details Callum McGregor Mallorca lunch that played key role in Celtic return

The 50-year-old also admitted he NEVER regretted leaving the club first time around but DOES regret the hurt is caused his fellow Celtic fans.

He added: “I would understand how the supporters would feel and I also know when I was here the first time and doing really well I also had critics. It was an emotional time, the club was going for 10 in a row.

“I hope I can still have a fabulous relationship with the fanbase. It’s natural that when I left it was a sad moment. I certainly don’t regret it but what I do regret is the hurt it caused people and that’s the very reason I’m sat here today. As a Celtic supporter I understood what it meant. That was my regret – that I hurt people who were Celtic fans and it was a big part of coming back.

“I never get too emotional with words and I’m hoping in my time here I can have the impact I had in my first time. The expectations are greater and the pressure is greater because of what we did the first time and how I left but that’s what I wanted, it’s why I’m here. I want to take on that expectation and pressure.

"I’m here to win and for me hopefully the people I’ve had lots of support from when I left, I really thank them for that, and to the people who maybe don’t want me here hopefully I can shift their opinion and prove to them with the football we play and success we can have.”

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