Rosenborg squad unhappy with decision to sack boss shortly before Celtic clash

The Rosenborg squad have expressed serious opposition to the decision to sack their manager days before facing Celtic in the Champions League qualifiers.

Kare Ingebrigtsen was dismissed on Thursday, less than 24 hours after his side edged past Valur of Iceland in the first qualifying round thanks to a stoppage-time penalty.

Rosenborg won a hat-trick of titles under Ingebrigsten and sit second in Tippeligaen, two points behind leaders Brann.

But academy director Rini Coolen will lead the team at Celtic Park next Wednesday after Ingebrigsten and assistant Erik Hoftun were sacked.

The players vowed to put the team first in their European clash with Celtic, who knocked out the Norwegian side in last year’s competition, but not before expressing their anger with the club’s decision.

In a statement widely reported in the Norwegian media, the players wrote: “We, a collective player group, are extremely unhappy with the board’s decision to dismiss Kare and Erik.

“The whole squad has been behind the coaching staff until the end, and the group believes they were and would be best suited to further development.

“The playing squad requested that the board reinstate Kare and Erik, but the board stuck to its decision.

“We thank you for four wonderful years, with very good results and the rebuilding of Rosenborg as Norway’s largest club.

“No former RBK coach has had the same good results in his first four years in the club.

“Furthermore, we will professionally deal with those who come in now and will do our utmost to perform in future matches.

“The club is the most important.

“In addition to this, we will not give any further comment, to have the maximum focus in the period ahead. “