Former Celtic striker John Hartson doesn’t believe that Brendan Rodgers will leave the club to take up the vacant managerial role at Aston Villa.

The Welshman says that the Hoops boss is deserving of a job with higher status than the English Championship side and he feels the former Liverpool manager will want to see the job through at Celtic Park:

“Another weekend and another club in for Brendan Rodgers. And I have to say I am not buying it at all. For a start, I just can’t see Brendan leaving Celtic to go to a Championship club. His stock is higher than that, surely?”

“And here is the real issue for me – I just think he wants to rise to the challenge at Celtic this year. am not an authority. I could be completely wrong and if so you can all take great delight in telling me that you told me so, but I just can’t see Brendan walking away from Celtic right now.”

Reports have suggested that Villa are going to ask Celtic for permission to speak with Rodgers, but at the time of writing, it is believed that no approach has been made.

The Northern Irishman has confirmed in the past that he has turned down a lucrative deal to manage a Chinese Super League team, while his name has also been linked with a number of other clubs during his tenure with the Scottish champions.

After back-to-back domestic trebles, Rodgers has encountered a tougher third season with Celtic, with the club already having lost twice in the league, and crashing out before the Champions League group stages.