need to strengthen squad

Rodgers striving to convince board of urgent

- By Ryan McDonald

AMBITION. That’s what Brendan Rodgers wants the Celtic board to show this summer.

Six new signings have checked in. More than a dozen players have headed out - including £17million man Nicolas Kuhn.

It’s clear the Hoops are short in key areas ahead of tomorrow’s curtain-raiser at home to St Mirren,

There’s still more than four weeks to go before the transfer window slams shut. So Rodgers ~ at least publicly — is refusing to hit the panic button just yet.

But with the £40m Champions League playoffs on the horizon, there’s no denying Celts are currently weaker than the squad that ended last season in tears at Hampden.

Fans are crying out for reinforcements. Yet Rodgers won’t compromise just to get bodies through the door.

Instead, he’s willing to play the waiting game — even if it’s far from ideal.

Asked if there’s a greater urgency to get players in before the first leg on August 19/20, he said: “No, I think every coach will tell you and every manager, you would want your players in for the first day of preseason to prepare them.

“That’s why you do preseason, to prepare. But if they’re not available or you can’t get the right players that you want, then of course you have to wait.