Sometimes Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers can be subtle and cryptic in his messages Other times he can be blunt and as subtle as the proverbial flying brick through a window. Either way, Rodgers drives his message home.

Twice last season the Irishman bared his managerial teeth. The first time was last June when he proudly stood on the steps of Celtic Park on his return to the exalted managerial position. Back then Rodgers declared: "When I left here four years ago it was probably one of the saddest days of my life.

"I went on to a different challenge so I regret if anyone stood here or at home were hurt, as I know I hurt many people but it's for that very reason I am here today. So for those who are with me and always have been, let's enjoy the journey. For those who I need to convince, I will see you here in May. Thank you very much for coming, Hail Hail."

As it turns out he did see the Celtic supporters in May... armed with two pieces of domestic silverware - the Scottish Premiership trophy and the Scottish Cup. The second occasion was back in February when Celtic defeated Motherwell 3-1 after coming from behind at Fir Park to seal a late but vital Scottish Premiership victory to remain two points behind Rangers in the title race.

The club's championship credentials were being tested and their city rivals - who were the pretenders to the throne under Philippe Clement - were being talked up and enjoying what Rodgers perceived to be some favourable press. It took a double from on-loan Norwich City striker and substitute Adam Idah to secure the points in Lanarkshire. A defiant Rodgers in the press room uttered the words: "There's a story being written about this group, but we will write our own story." Celtic did write their own story come the end of the campaign.

Rodgers makes a habit of public utterances like this. He was at it again after Celtic defeated Pep Guardiola's Manchester City 4-3 in the second of the pre-season games of their tour in the USA at the Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. In the aftermath of the match in which Celtic had played superbly well against top-level opposition, the conversation turned to transfers or lack of therein. Celtic have signed two goalkeepers thus far in the summer window - Kasper Schmeichel on a free from Anderlecht and young Finnish shot-stopper Viljami Sinisalo for £1 million from Aston Villa.

That's not enough for the insatiable Celtic supporters who are up in arms at the club's reluctance to dig into the vast cash reserves that last season's double winners seemingly have at their disposal. It varies from £70 million to £100 million daily. Insert figure here or delete as appropriate. The bottom line is that Celtic have money - lots of it. So why aren't they spending it?

The supporters insist that the Celtic team at this juncture is ill-equipped to cope with the rigours of the newly revamped Champions League competition. However Rodgers in his inimitable managerial style quelled the flames that were threatening to get out of control.

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He said: "I had a long meeting with Michael (Nicholson) and Chris (McKay) today, so we know the targets we want to bring in.

“There’s still a long way to go in the window. I think my concentration is that we know what we want to do, and we know the priority positions that we want to improve. Whilst the club gets on with that, myself and the coaches were really focused on the improvement of this team physically, tactically and technically. So at some point before the end of August, I would expect us to have the players we want in.

“I’ll make it clear to the Celtic supporters, we know where we want to improve the squad, we want to get better, we don't want to stand still and by the end of the window shutting, I would expect us to be that.”

The update wasn't subtle nor did it contain a subliminal or cryptic message. It contained a pledge. The 51-year-old is playing the long ball game when it comes to the summer window. Rodgers promised the Celtic supporters that the club would be stronger by the end of the window. He now has to deliver or rather those above him have to deliver and make good on the manager's words.

This is where subtlety goes right out the window. By naming Nicholson and McKay, Rodgers has cleverly manipulated and controlled the transfer narrative by revealing that there are others involved in the process of signing players - not just him. Celtic to this point does not have a recruitment team per se. So we have to believe that it is Rodgers just as Ange Postecoglou did in his first transfer window at the managerial helm who is identifying and scouting the players. That's not beyond the realms of fantasy. It is entirely logical.

Rodgers' words were also a power play. In tennis terms, it was a return that was smashed back over the net to his opponent or in this case the Celtic boardroom, hierarchy, call them what you will.

There was also a fine demarcation of the roles that everybody plays in a football club. Rodgers is all over everything that a manager should be when it comes to every aspect of the football department: “Whilst the club gets on with that, myself and the coaches were really focused on the improvement of this team physically, tactically and technically. So at some point before the end of August, I would expect us to have the players we want in."

If the Manchester City display is anything to go by already during pre-season Rodgers has improved the team - physically, tactically and technically. After all, it's Rodgers' head that will be on the chopping block if Celtic were to fail next May...not Nicholson's or McKay's. Nicholson and McKay have a choice to make here. Go all in on their manager and deliver what he wants or do the bare minimum. It is that simple. Celtic still have time to turn this transfer window into a hugely successful one.

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"We know the positions that we want to improve..." If you canvass any Celtic supporter they will tell you the arrival of Portuguese midfielder Paulo Bernardo as well as Republic of Ireland international striker Adam Idah - both huge contributors from last season - would be seen as the bare minimum.

Celtic are in desperate need of another left-back, a centre-back, and a winger. Rodgers is well aware of that. If Rodgers is allowed to pursue all of the above and recruits quality in the positions stated before the end of August then Celtic and the hierarchy will have delivered. If they don't then they will stand accused - and nor for the first time - of reverting to their old penny-pinching ways which saw a parting of the ways when the manager was in situ the first time around.

The club are in the rudest financial health they have ever enjoyed in its illustrious 136-year history. Whenever you hire an elite-level manager - make no mistake, Rodgers is an elite-level manager - the one thing they are very good at is communication. Communication with players, staff, supporters and members of the boardroom alike.

Rodgers deliberately chose his time to let the Celtic supporters know about his meeting with the club's hierarchy over transfers. He's wise. He has his ear to the ground. He hears the murmurings of discontent over the club's current transfer dealings. By making the details of the transfer meeting with Nicholson and McKay public knowledge, it was Rodgers' version of a flying brick through the hierarchy's window.

The Celtic supporters desperately hope that the Celtic boss will be armed to the teeth with the necessary funds so that he can bring the players he wants to the club in order to continue their domestic dominance as well as make an impression on the Champions League.

Only this week the fans were asked again to dig deep into their pockets again as Celtic unveiled their away kit for the 2024/25 Scottish Premiership season with the return of the "beloved yellow jersey". The shirt features a base yellow shirt featuring green horizontal hoops with a "bold clover crest" in place of the Celtic badge at £70 a pop.

It is no secret that Rodgers craves to turn Celtic into a Champions League competitive team or some kind of 'European force' for want of a better expression. It is up to the men at the top of the club tree to now honour the manager's commitment to the Celtic cause with their actions and deeds. Rodgers has certainly earned the right to be handed a significant transfer fund to splurge this summer. 

The Celtic supporters expect. Funnily enough, so does Rodgers. That was his message. It was loud and clear.