Richard Early 
Ian MacNicol/Getty Images Sport
Kolo Toure could remain Celtic next season despite being out of contract this summer, although he is yet to make the decision, according to a report in the Evening Times.
The Ivorian international signed for the Hoops last summer on a free transfer, and he has become one of the three players at the club to become an invincible with two teams.
The 35-year-old featured mostly in the opening period of the season, although failed to appear as much once Brendan Rodgers had settled for his favoured centre back partnership of Dedryck Boyata and Jozo Simunovic.
Speaking about the situation, Rodgers said:
It’s a tough one, Kolo is still in that mindset where he is asking: ‘Do I want to play?’ He’s now 35. He was fantastic for us last year, but his contract has run out. But he is someone I would like to have a role for.
Obviously, the playing role diminishes for him. He just needs time to see where he’s at, in terms of playing, or whether he falls into the coaching role more.
It’s something that he and I have spoken about over the course of the season. I think that sometimes what happens is that players who have been at that level, and have that experience, they sometimes just get pushed to the side a little bit.
It helps you as a coach or a manager, because you cannot be in the players’ pockets 24 hours a day. So these are guys that can be great lieutenants for you, and help install your standards and the values, such as giving young players a little reminder about things when you’re not there.
A player with a profile and a status can do that for you. That’s why I think it’s so important that big clubs have guys who can do that.
Toure has a great relationship with Rodgers and worked with him previously when the pair were at Liverpool.
The likelihood is that the defender will call quits on his playing career at Parkhead, and become a member of the coaching staff.
Rodgers will be keen to utilise the player’s invaluable experience and retain his services in a more effective way.
