If Peter Lawwell left the building last year, the final chapter would have been about nine-in-a-row and four consecutive trebles. His legacy (which we will cover at the end of the season) would have been a more straightforward matter to document. Instead, he gets to own a bad season, a cautionary tale to incoming chief executive, Dominic McKay. This job never goes to plan.
He arrived at the club in late 2003 at a time when the lemmings of Scottish football were heading for the cliffs. Celtic had just posted a £11.6m loss despite reaching the Uefa Cup Final, a sum that was dwarfed by Rangers’ £29.6m loss. We lost money every season since Fergus McCann left four years earlier. His first challenge was straightforward, remain competitive and don’t follow Rangers over the edge.
Martin O’Neill was replaced by Gordon Strachan who in his first season had to work with a reduced budget. Revenues grew as the club’s commercial operation matured, so Gordon’s budget soon passed that of Martin’s. Celtic enjoyed a period of financial stability, domestic success and for the first time reached the knock out stages of the Champions League, until then, a fabled nirvana.
If you think this season is the darkest period of Peter’s tenure you have forgotten about 2011. Gordon lost the league for the first time in 2009, Tony Mowbray lost his only title in 2010 and Neil Lennon lost at the first time of asking in 2011. In the autumn of 2011, we dropped 10 points behind Rangers, who were on track for four-in-a-row.
For me, who started writing a blog about the need for financial stability, those years were a real challenge. We were paying our bills but there is no obligation on football fans to take an interest in the club’s accounts, all most want to see is a winning team, and Rangers were winning what mattered. This debate played out for years on CQN. Some of us knew Rangers were going to crash and burn, although it was not until 2011 that I realised how spectacularly that was going to happen. Others on here talked of “Jam tomorrow”.
It was likely but never inevitable that Rangers would become insolvent. Peter chose a path that guaranteed our survival over matching Rangers’ losses. It made him unpopular, but he felt it was the right path to follow. I agreed.
The world changed in season 2011-12. David Murray sold Rangers to Craig Whyte, an experienced insolvency expert. Craig had a plan to liquidate Rangers, phoenix with a Newco and become incarnate as the body and soul of Oldco.
CQN was always active on Rangers finances, they were as pertinent to the success of Celtic as our own, but I went out on a limb in October that year, with what was a prescient blog, The prepack route for Rangers Newco FC. I predicted Rangers liquidation, the consequential space in the SPL, the consequences for the TV deal, sponsorship deals and for other clubs. I explained how Newco would try to join the top flight and finished with a call to arms to stop it, all months before any of it happened.
Celtic said very little during this period but the role Peter Lawwell played in stopping Newco Rangers slipping straight into the top flight was absolute. The prescience and call to arms in that blog and the many that followed in the months to come, were well informed.
The rise of Neil Lennon as manager culminated in that night against Barcelona in November 2012 but the sands were already shifting below our feet. Barcelona was a peak, not a new plateau. Ronny Deila was manager before he was ready. He won leagues but fatefully blew Champions League qualification.
The appointment of Brendan Rodgers was nothing to do with Dermot Desmond watching Newco directors celebrate a semi-final win at Hampden, Dermot was on an aeroplane by then, it was more about chance. Brendan was out of work, a Celtic fan and in need of a place to restore his managerial reputation. Despite the titles, Celtic were flagging. He filled the stands, boosted every revenue stream and won five trophies, before leaving us at the altar of back-to-back trebles.
Few of us were inspired when Neil Lennon was appointed permanent manager after securing that second treble against Hearts. Brendan was sacked by Liverpool, Neil ‘mutual-ed’ by Hibs, by any measure, a downgrade. That night in Rome 14 months ago, when Celtic recorded their first win on Italian soil, the decision look inspired, but not for the first time, the sands were already shifting below our feet.
The collapse this season had been nothing to do with fans not being at games, players isolating or any other nefarious reason. We got our football operations wrong, it is as simple as that. You and I will regret this for a long time, as will Peter Lawwell.
We will lose the league to a Newco Rangers who (pre-crisis) have annual losses approaching Oldco’s when Peter took over. Losing the league hurts, but financial fundamentals ultimately determine the future. This lesson from the Peter Lawwell era will endure. Good luck to Dominic McKay, he has a big sharp suit to fill.
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CHAVEZ
I hope our new CEO reads that and adopts
the principal for us at Celtic .
Thanks .
TURKEYBHOY on 30TH JANUARY 2021 12:26 PM
It’s a blog, bud. Don’t take things posted on here so seriously! It’s a place for us amateurs to have a go at figuring out how things would be if we had a say, nothing more. Believe you me I have enough trouble figuring things out in real life :))). For me it’s a bit of fun, nothing else, por cierto.
GLENDALYSTONSILS on 30TH JANUARY 2021 12:29 PM
“Accountants stick to figures and fitba men cover the fitba , then we’ll all be happy .”
Now there’s an idea!!! :)) por cierto
The huns don’t have a Blog like this one.
This Dear Green Place is a necessity in a Scotland blighted by scoddish fitba’ hacks.
The huns don’t need a blog like this either as they have almost total kover at most Levels in the game…….
……..any sniff of triumph for the hun and lo’ an’ behold they appear in thur halla’ een garb – foolin’ nobody but themsels……
HHH.
Gary Caldwell on Celtic TV for today’s game, can we not get anyone better? A guy who was giving Radio Scotland the anti Celtic, anti NL stuff they love a couple of months ago.
!!BADA BING!! on 30TH JANUARY 2021 12:36 PM
Aye. Whatever happened to what we were promised at the outset, Rory Hamilton, commentating and the likes of Michael Stewart etc. chipping in, por cierto
PC- he came out with the SMSM tagline ‘ Neil Lennon brings it all on himself ‘,get him tae….
My spirits were lifted when i heard you Robertson had been recalled from Gillingham , a good young talented player . Unfortunately wont see him this year as he’s heading back out on loan to Doncaster.
EMERALDBEE \O/ A DOUBLE NINER!! on 30TH JANUARY 2021 12:18 PM
***
It’s why Neil Lennon was a terrible appointment – he doesn’t develop young players and he apparently doesn’t make much use of data either. When your business model is supposed to be about developing young players and selling them on for a profit you can’t appoint a dinosaur as manager. It’s lunacy.
POR CIERTO on 30TH JANUARY 2021 12:34 PM
GLENDALYSTONSILS on 30TH JANUARY 2021 12:29 PM
“Accountants stick to figures and fitba men cover the fitba , then we’ll all be happy .”
———–
DOF – to CEO “manager wants another striker”
CEO – he has already spent the budget
DOF – aye, but as the fitba guy, i am telling you we need a striker as well
CEO – ok , who do you want to sell
DOF – nobody, that is not team building
CEO – I am an accountant, my job is to increase revenue, and balance the books
DOF – well we wont win anything without that other striker
CEO – i will call dermo, i told him your the wrong appointment
DOF – aye will you, wait till I tell CQN
CEO – your too late I just got published
—————
as an aside anyone tell me who the best DOF is ? name one please.
COYBIG……………………………..
POR CIERTO on 30TH JANUARY 2021 12:32 PM
TURKEYBHOY on 30TH JANUARY 2021 12:26 PM
It’s a blog, bud. Don’t take things posted on here so seriously! It’s a place for us amateurs to have a go at figuring out how things would be if we had a say, nothing more. Believe you me I have enough trouble figuring things out in real life :))). For me it’s a bit of fun, nothing else, por cierto.
—————
Correct. It’s where we discuss all things Celtic and beyond. Don’t take it too serious.
However, there are some very sharp and knowledgeable posters on here.
HH.
Marspapa
Vale play the bottom side at home today – last Saturday they played the then bottom side and lost. 😨
Thanks again to everyone for their best wishes.
as an aside aside,
Lee Ann Dempster on Shortie was really complimentary about PL as a CEO, and equally complimentary of “Dom” who she knows very well.
What did come across was she is part of the blazers boys club for sure.
POR CIERTO on 30TH JANUARY 2021 12:32 PM
TURKEYBHOY on 30TH JANUARY 2021 12:26 PM
It’s a blog, bud. Don’t take things posted on here so seriously! It’s a place for us amateurs to have a go at figuring out how things would be if we had a say, nothing more. Believe you me I have enough trouble figuring things out in real life :))). For me it’s a bit of fun, nothing else, por cierto.
————————————————————
Exactly how i see it. 😊👍
https://twitter.com/i/status/1355264474941448196
Wee Boab doing well at the 🏌🏻
GENE on 30TH JANUARY 2021 12:49 PM
Marspapa
Vale play the bottom side at home today – last Saturday they played the then bottom side and lost. 😨
Thanks again to everyone for their best wishes.
——————————————–
GENE
would Klimala and Ajeti help , we could loan you them……if they play today they’ll both score now.🤣🤣
CHAVEZ on 30TH JANUARY 2021 12:46 PM
Agree completely. On the famous Hampdump-in-the-showers day I said to my mate, even as we were wallowing in the afterglow of the Cup win and even if I have all the time in the world for Lenny the man, that Lawwell should be sacked for saying he hadn’t even considered any other candidates.
Lenny was smart over those first few months, doing little to disturb what had been a winning formula under Rodgers, but long term there was just going to be one outcome and we are now watching it unfold in front of us. How exciting would it be to know that something like the AZ Alkmaar project was being put in place at Celtic. We can but hope.
Ave Ave
Marspapa
Klimala definitely – we could do with a bit of pace up front.
SAINT STIVS on 30TH JANUARY 2021 12:46 PM
“as an aside anyone tell me who the best DOF is ? name one please.”
Nope! Haven’t got a clue! :))) por cierto.
GENE
Just been reading back , good news 👍
GREENPINATA on 30TH JANUARY 2021 12:48 PM
“However, there are some very sharp and knowledgeable posters on here.”
Aye for sure, but, they’re the ones for the watching :))) por cierto
FAIRHILL BHOY on 30TH JANUARY 2021 12:52 PM
Wee Boab doing well at the 🏌🏻
——————————–
Havn’t seen you on lately or maybe missed your posts.
How are you coping …… i imagine the weans will keep you occupied .
Is the golf still opened , you still beating M and co.
Saint stivs
DOF – If they are any good you shouldn’t know about them 🤭
Good luck to the Celts today, an important game to win.
I’ll be watching all 90 mins on the Passport again but having never listened to any of the chat I’ve no opinion on the quality of the presentations.
My feeling is the idea hasn’t taken root well. The first time I used it for a league game was Hibs pre-Christmas, the day of the foodbank drive. Out of interest, I checked the details in the following days.
366 contributors reached £10,000 including the gift aided augmentation. Not all season ticket holders obviously and equally sometimes more than one book covered by an individual payment. I worked back from there to suggest to myself 600 season ticket holders donated and 5% of the audience participated.
Conclusions drawn by me; 12,000 watched an attractive fixture, 95% ignored the foodbank drive and 75% of season book holders paid the game no attention on club tv.
Generally, the internet Celtic following has a greater conceit of its reach and influence than real life indicates.
Gene
It must have been brilliant getting that news.
In better times you’d have been straight out the door looking for an eleven a side game that was short of a player
On the matter of CL qualification if I were a CEO with supposed clout I would be trying to address the risks about not being able to qualify then not qualifying.
The first is obvious, particularly if only the title winner qualifies, get the rules applied fairly and if SFA not willing to address, argue as in ” my way or the highway ” for reform of referee service , domestic FFP and fit and proper background checks.
At the same time start building for CL qualificaton success by reducing a huge risk factor – churn.
No more the CB meeting the Goalie in the tunnel at first qualifying match approach. No morr having to play dear Effe Ambrose against a pub team who sells the jersey as fans knew was most likely but even BR didnt.
That means recruiting in January to have players bedded in by July.
However there is a risk to buying in January not just quality of player available but if it’s a neck and neck race for the title having not addressed the first risk then top qualifying spot might be at risk apart from denying them a title.
So.
You move the bloody football season so that in July the team has had say 3 months football under its belt, removing another risk, lack of match fitness.
Let it run to say Nov and league stops.
Start again in Feb or March with cup competitions to fill the gap until April.
Have a transfer window near our new season end to to hire replacements from players ending contracts elsewhere which will be a bigger and better quality pool than January.
Games are played during better playing and spectating conditions and best still. TV companies looking for football sporting content in the summer will pay higher prices to broadcast.
In a Euro or World Cup year perhaps have a two week break filled by a short U21 competition if players lost to the international game.
Now that for me is the kind of thinking and leadership Celtic have failed to give Scottish football because there are benefits for all clubs looking to play in Europe.
Underwrite losses to some clubs if change results in that by topping up the UEFA solidarity payment if necessary by a cut in the CL income to the qualifying clubs.
It’s not rocket science is it? Asks a rocket.
Just read that article re: John Collins. Certainly could fit in the new setup – whether as DOF or under the DOF.
Maybe focus on establishing an overall health & fitness regime – sports science, medical, physical and mental improvement – at all levels of the club?
HH
BGFC
31003
At 70 I’m still up for playing goalkeeper in a five-a-side.
SAINT STIVS on 30TH JANUARY 2021 12:46 PM
;-))))
Gene
Don’t be ageist
Auldheid- lack of planning for the most lucrative games of any season, the CLQs,is sheer negligence, never understood it.Hopefully among a lot of changes coming up.
No doubt the balance between Celtic PLC and Celtic fc will still conflict even under a new set up . We just have to get the balance a bit better.
GENE
Great news good luck for the future.
KEEP THE FAITH
Glendalystonsils
Good point indeed. The balance needs to shift towards the football team, that’s my view, there are a fair few patrons of this parish that covet a balance sheet more than a trophy, and I don’t mean going into hock to win trophies, as that’s the usual response.
You know the sort, the ones that are still peddling Monty Pythons Black Knight defence with regards to how this sEason has panned out.
Hearts v Dunfermline PPV £18.50……seriously….
MARSPAPA-high mate.I’m doing ok,like everyone else just getting on with things.
We tried to play last Saturday and couldn’t even get a tee in the ground.We hit one shot and chucked it😉