The job was taken over by longtime Celtics assistant coach Jimmy Rodgers. ''It's something I wanted to do,'' Jones would say of his resignation in an interview at his home with the Associated Press.

Rodgers, though, is more than happy to acknowledge and even welcome the renewed challenge to Celtic’s domestic hegemony currently being posed by Jimmy Thelin’s vibrant Aberdeen side.

Praises Jimmy Thelin, saying he is "clearly a very good coach and has good coaches around him". When asked if the Dons can push Celtic in the league and cups, Rodgers said: "I don't know ...

Jimmy Thelin's side have won all 13 of their games this season but the Swede has said it is "way too early" to talk of Aberdeen as title contenders, and Rodgers agrees. "I don't know, is the ...