There was a comedic interlude at the Celtic AGM where CEO Michael Nicholson was compared to 'The Godfather' character Michael Corleone.

A shareholder stood up and quipped: "Michael when Peter (Lawwell) was our Chief Executive, he was known as the Godfather of Scottish football. You are now the Godfather of Scotland. You are Al Pacino to Peter's Marlon Brando."

The Corleone family know all about contracts. So does the Celtic family.

Contracts were the buzzword as Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers sat down to preview Saturday night's mouthwatering Scottish Premiership clash against Hearts. It is probably apt that the Godfather movies come in a trilogy. It was three contracts that were high on the Celtic agenda.

The first contract was that of Canadian right back Alistair Johnston who extended his stay in Glasgow's east end by putting pen to paper on a new five-year deal tying him to the club until 2029.

Rodgers was quick to praise Johnston's leadership qualities. He said: "I am really pleased. I think the club are really good on that side and in the main getting players committed long-term to the club. Of course, it doesn't always mean that they will be there but at least it protects the asset, but all the players do sign with the intention of being here for the longer term period and none more so than Ali (Johnston) because he absolutely loves being a Celtic player.

"I've enjoyed my time working with him. I can see his development, I can see him growing. He's got so many attributes on and off the pitch that help this team and this club. So, yes, I am delighted that he's re-signed.

"I'm lucky here where we have quite a few leaders in our squad he's one of them, and he's a voice on and off the pitch. His mentality, his training mentality every single day is to be better, to improve. He thinks and talks about the game like a coach. He understands the game well, loves the detail and then he goes and performs with the personality that you need to play at a big club.

"There have been lots of good players that can play for a club like Celtic but you might just not have the personality to deal with the expectation the demand from the support base but he has that and I think we've seen that from his first game, you come in here, you're only in the door and you're playing away at Ibrox you play as he did - it tells you everything about his personality."

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The second contract issue is not so cut and dried although Rodgers reiterated his stance that he would dearly love Taylor to sign on the dotted line with his current deal due to expire in the summer but insisted that the parties weren't close at this juncture.

The 51-year-old said: "I don't think there's anything close but I repeat it's something that I really want to do but I have to respect both sides on that from Greg's side, from the club's side but from a managerial side I want him to stay here.

"I hope that we can do everything we can to keep him. But I also respect Greg's position and there's no drop-off with him because he's such a great trainer, he has a great mentality. If he didn't renew, I know till the very last day here he would give absolutely everything but I'm very hopeful that we can sign him because he's been developed here, his skill set suits how he works on the pitch, he's a brilliant passer of the ball, his view of the game is so good and he plays that inverted role well for us.

"Off the pitch, he's a real pillar of the group and we want to continue with that we don't want to be moving players like that we want to keep those players if they want to stay. So hopefully over time, we can get that done also."

Ironically Saturday's late-night match-up against Hearts was almost an afterthought as Rodgers spoke of looking forward to an 'intense game' and a 'tough match' against a side who have 'performed well but not quite getting the results'.

As for the final part of the contract trilogy? That revolved around the main man. Rodgers himself.

The Irishman is two years into his current three-year contract but with everything going so well both on and off the pitch, Rodgers refused to rule anything in or out but did admit that his love for the Celtic family has been rekindled since taking over the reins from Ange Postecolgou in the summer of 2023.

(Image: Craig Foy - SNS Group) Rodgers said: "What did I say on my first day here? Listen, I said I'd be here for three years, at the end of three years I've done nearly six years as Celtic manager, which is a long time for a Celtic manager. But no, I haven't thought about it. Listen, I think for nearly a year I think there were probably more people wanting me out than in, so I'm not going to be talking about new contracts now!

"I just need to continue to work well, to do my very best for the club and then I'm pretty sure at some point next season or whatever we can see how we're going and then take it from there. At the minute, I love my life here it's an amazing club to work in.

"Funnily enough, going away and coming back has made it even better for me, because I knew what I missed when I was away so I'm not in a big rush to be leaving it again but it's a great place to be.

"I love working with the players - they say in life for you, the biggest currency you have is time and I think when you get to 51 and as you get older you realise that. Time around people you love, around your family, around your workplace and I would have to agree with that. Where I am at the minute, I'm in a brilliant place, so just keep it that way!"

Perhaps the time is right for the Celtic hierarchy in true 'Godfather' style to seriously consider making Rodgers 'an offer he can't refuse.'