ALL good things must come to an end. And for Nir Bitton and Tom Rogic, yesterday that meant the conclusion of their respective love affairs with Celtic.

After over nine years at the club each, and contributions made to bringing 16 major honours to Celtic in that time, both men have decided that they have come to the end of the road, and will take their leave after this afternoon’s trophy day celebrations at Celtic Park.

It is sure to be an emotional occasion, with Bitton struggling to fight back the tears as he said his initial farewells in an interview with the club’s TV channel yesterday.

It will be a wrench too for Ange Postecoglou, not only because of the history both men have had at the club, but that he managed to get so much out of them as their manager this season.

“In football sometimes it’s hard to get the right kind of ending to a story,” Postecoglou said.

“I just think with both those guys it’s a great way to end their fantastic careers at this football club.

“I’ve been talking to both Tom and Nir throughout the year and they felt it was the right time. For us, I guess as a football club, we need to be looking always to be continually evolving the team.

“It just seemed to be the right fit. As the season panned out, and now being champions, it’s just a great to send off two unbelievable servants of this football club.

“They both get the chance to say goodbye in the right possible way and our supporters get the chance to acknowledge them.

“There’s no doubt that their careers speak for themselves. I guess my own input into that is the last 12 months when they’ve both been outstanding on and off the field.

“I obviously knew Tom from before but just working with him on a daily basis…he’s been brilliant for me. I know in the early days he was probably the go to man in terms of people trying to find out about me. I’m sure he helped me in many ways. His season this year has been brilliant.

“After a couple of little set-backs, he’s the fittest he’s ever been. He’s made a massive contribution.

“Equally with Nir, I needed experienced players as it was a young group. On and off the field he’s really helped Callum (McGregor) and sort of shaped the dressing room. His influence, particularly on Liel Abada, has been unbelievable.

“Liel’s a 19-year-old who we brought in as a sort of development project. Look at the season he’s had. I’ve got no doubt that a huge chunk of that is because of Nir’s influence on him.”

Postecoglou will enjoy the rewards of his labour over his first year in Scotland this afternoon, but after a short break to take stock, his attention will turn full-scale on preparing his squad for their title defence and for a shot at the Champions League.

That doesn’t just mean filling vacancies that have been left behind by the likes of Bitton and Rogic, or bringing in new signings to help his team’s evolution, but also trimming some pretty expensive fat from its underbelly.

The likes of Albian Ajeti, Vasilis Barkas and Ismaila Soro are still contracted to the club, but have little prospect of getting a look-in under Postecoglou, meaning there will be conversations to be had with them over the summer.

“It doesn’t benefit anyone [having players out of the picture] but with all these things it’s about having discussions with the players and everyone coming to an agreement about what the best way forward is,” he said.

“Players obviously have to think about their own careers. As a football club we have to think about our own strategy for the coming season and beyond.

“We’re constantly having these discussions and ultimately I think when there’s some sort of uniformity between the parties you get an outcome.

“That’s what we’ll do. That’s what happened with Niro and Tom ad it will happen with the other boys who potentially could be looking elsewhere.”

In terms of those who may come into the dressing room, Postecoglou is keeping his eyes and ears open to talent from far and wide, as well as closer to home.

The Celtic manager wouldn’t discount recruiting Scottish talent if he feels there are players here who would fit into his system and thrive under his philosophy.

“The bit I think people have maybe missed is that what I have done is look everywhere for the right footballers,” he said.

“There just happened to be four in Japan that I knew could make a difference. Liel obviously came in from Israel.

“I don’t neglect any market. What we want to be as a football club is one that tries and is creative with the way we identify players and not close us off from any option whether that be right here on our doorstep, the academy, Scotland, the UK, Europe, Asia, South America or North America.

“That’s the strategy we are going to have – we are not going to be closed to any market.

“What we are going to try and do is find the right footballers who will fit into our way of playing and are also the right characters.”