Celtics lack of deals not my decision - Rodgers

This video can not be played

Celtic frustrated at home by Kazakhs Kairat

Manager Brendan Rodgers insists the failure to strengthen Celtics squad for their Champions League play-off with Kairat was "not my decision" and concedes that he has to "accept where its at".

The Scottish champions - heavy favourites to progress - were listless in being held to a goalless draw by their Kazakhstan counterparts.

Now they must travel more than 3,500 miles for next Tuesdays second leg, just short of the Chinese border, knowing they need a far better showing if they are to return to the top table of continental competition this season.

Celtic have recruited seven players this summer, paying fees for Benjamin Nygren, Hayato Inamura, Shin Yamada and Callum Osmand, with Kieran Tierney and Ross Doohan arriving on frees and Jahmai Simpson-Pusey on loan.

Only Nygren and Tierney started on Wednesday, while the likes of Nicolas Kuhn and Kyogo Furuhashi - who starred in the Champions League last term - have been sold and not replaced, while Jota is out injured long term.

"We need to improve the squad," Rodgers said. "Theres been clarity around that for a long time. Supporters see that. Hopefully between now and the end of the season, the club will get that and that will support us.

"Its not my decision in the end. I can prepare the players that are here. We are clear on where we need to improve, and for whatever reason we havent been able to.

"Theres only so many ways that I can dress up that we dont have the players here. It was pretty clear. You dont need to look into the future too far.

"You know these games are tough and you want to have players in as quick as you can. But it is what it is. I have to accept where its at."

Rodgers has voiced his frustration already this summer about the lack of signings that would strengthen his starting XI.

His patience snapped during an interview following Fridays Premier Sports Cup win over Falkirk but he did concede there is still time for deals to be done before the window closes late on Monday, 1 September.

Bear in mind that, at this stage last season, Auston Trusty, Arne Engels and Luke McCowan had yet to arrive and Adam Idah was still holding a scarf above his head.

However, that was lost on the fans who chanted sack the board during the draw with Kairat.

"What I do know is sack the board usually means sack the manager. Its normally the manager that goes when that starts to be sung," Rodgers said wryly.

This video can not be played

We need to improve the squad - Rodgers

Lorenzo: Celtic cannot progress while the same faces run the show with their regular-managed decline.

Kenny: Low-ball bids, gambling on a play off. The disgust in Brendan Rodgers is the same as every fan. Signing projects hoping one out of five sells for £20m. Shocking.

Rufus: Teflon Brendan - no matter what happens, its always someone elses fault. Either the board of the players.

Graham: The usual from Rodgers…blah blah blah.

Andy: The issue with signings is not fees, its timing. Jota is out long term, Kuhn was sold weeks ago. So the club are presumably signing two wingers. And yet we cant get one signed before the important games have started. Its the same for years.

Tony: The transfer dealings arent good enough but maybe we also need to look at Rodgers failure to evolve in terms of set up. A team of players who go side to side with no one willing to try something different to create space for a forward pass.

Rory: That one is on Rodgers and the players. Should have beaten them with what we had.

Dave: Rodgers has the perfect excuse to leave after this season, lack of urgency and quality about this team. The board have rolled the dice and failed, this is on them.

Ivor: Brendan working his ticket again? Fans going to hound out Peter Lawwell again? Just lucky Rangers havent got their act together. Sack the board.

Michelle: Not nearly good enough. Kyogo and Kuhn are long gone and Idah is not anywhere near the standard we need.

Wullie: "Sack the board"? Absolutely hilarious. The Celtic board is to blame for the failure of a team of millionaires and its millionaire manager to beat a team from Kazakhstan?

Eric: You get what you pay for!

John: Lack of re investment of the transfer revenue clearly demonstrates the lack of ambition of the club.

Send us your views on Celtic