Lincoln Red Imps assistant manager Mick McElwee reckons Brendan Rodgers will get the fans flocking back to Celtic Park following Ronny Deila’s underwhelming reign.
Irishman McElwee, who masterminded ten Gibraltan league titles at the Imps as manager before stepping back two years ago, is a big Hoops fan and is thrilled the Scottish champions managed to lure the former Liverpool boss to Glasgow.
Rodgers will make his competitive dugout debut in this evening’s Champions League second qualifying round first leg at Lincoln’s 2,000 capacity Victoria stadium.
Even though McElwee will be hoping the part-timers can cause a mighty upset, the Imps coach is delighted by the level of ambition Celtic have shown with the appointment of the Northern Irishman.
McElwee, who has lived in Gibraltar for 30 years, said: “I think Neil Lennon’s team of a few years back gave the fans a load of brilliant European nights and lets see if Brendan Rodgers can do the same.
“It’s a great signing, if you want to call it that. He’ll probably still have a little bit to prove but I think Celtic is a great place for him to do that.
“Hopefully he’ll play the football that Celtic fans want, which is what’s been lacking in the last two or three years. I hope he’ll bring back that style.”
McElwee admits he is living a dream by going head-to-head with his beloved Celtic.
He added: “My parents were Irish from Donegal and Celtic are the only team that is supported in that part of the world.
“Who are my Celtic heroes? Well you have the European Cup winning team of 1967, you don’t have to go to much further than that – although I was only a few years old.
“There’s Kenny Dalglish and some of the players that came through after that. I thought he had some of his best years at Celtic.”
