STIL TIME TO BACK BRENDAN

Legend Petrov calls on Parkhead board to give boss what he wants in bid to get him to stay on

- BY MICHAEL GANNON

STILIYAN PETROV insists the Celtic board should bend over backwards to get behind Brendan Rodgers' long-term vision for the club.

The Hoops boss is expected to exit when his contract is up at the end of the season after frustration in the transfer market and signs of tension behind the scenes.

But Rodgers claimed he could STAY with Celts - if Parkhead chiefs match his ambitions.

Petrov insisted Rodgers was bang on to make his demands and he's hoping the club's powerbrokers get on board.

He said: "Of course. I believe Brendan Rodgers deserves that. I think he's a very good, strong coach who knows what he wants. He's proven around the world how good he is as a manager.

"So he has the right to make demands and to ask for players, for the club spending money.

"Obviously, there's a risk with that but I believe a strong manager should do that.

"And you know, having a strong manager, the club should be proud, the fans should be proud, because that means that this manager thinks the best of the club.

"When you have a man like Brendan Rodgers demanding for more quality, better players, depth of the squad, this is something that every big team does. And I believe that he's got the right to do that.