‘DIFFICULT’ AND ‘SATISFACTORY’: LAWWELL’S AGM ADMISSION

PETER LAWWELL has admitted it has been “a difficult year” for Celtic, but it has also been “amazingly satisfactory”.

The chief executive was addressing shareholders at today’s AGM and delivered a frank assessment of the season where the club sealed the unprecedented treble treble.

The progress was interrupted, of course, when manager Brendan Rodgers quit in February to take over at Leicester City taking three of the staff with him while Head of Recruitment Lee Congerton joined him afterwards.

Lawwell praised the departing Rodgers and the incoming Nicky Hammond as the team’s new top talent scout. He also hailed the work done by Neil Lennon as he guided the team to their eighth successive title and the Scottish Cup triumph that made history as the club’s NINTH successive domestic honour.

The Hoops supremo, in a report in the Daily Record, said: “It was a difficult year, but we made history and a profit. Amazingly satisfactory.

“Our backroom of Damien Duff and John Kennedy was vital when Brendan left. We will always be indebted to Brendan, he raised the bar on a number of issues and standards.

“Then Neil stood up to the plate in our moment of need. Neil is a great manager.

“Nick Hammond has been exceptional. We got the right players in. The real core of the team are under long-term contracts’

“We are stable on and off the pitch. Nick is rebuilding our recruitment department and we have high, high hopes for him. We have to find uncut diamonds and the basis is good recruitment.”

Celtic have already secured European football next year following their 2-1 win over Lazio in Rome earlier this month – their first victory on Italian soil in 13 attempts – and will face Steven Gerrard’s Iborx side in the Betfred League Cup Final a week on Sunday as they aim to pick up the honour for the fourth successive season.

They can win their Europa League section when they take on Rennes at Parkhead tomorrow night.