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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So folk just don’t get it.
Though critical of the Celtic Board and the CEO on occasions, let me take the opportunity of using Paul67’s platform to wish Peter Lawwell all the best in his future, at UEFA or elsewhere in football, with best wishes to his family now and beyond.
‘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.’
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Totally agree with the first part Paul.
But any honest & comprehensive analysis of his legacy would also have included significant underperformance in Europe, a failed ‘buy to sell’ transfer policy, and a blind eye/funny handshake approach to Rangers/Sevco and corruption in the SFA.
Our incoming CEO has done a good job at the SRU. Similar challenges to working next door to money rich English neighbours.
Scottish rugby is still 💩at throw ins mind!
HH jg
I have always commented on CEO and although I hardly every agreed with his direction it wasn’t personal , it was my own views and How I wanted to see Celtic operate , wish him luck in the future
Same as Lenny , nothing personal but like PL legacy ruined
Pedro bye bye glad to see you go. Welcome Dom
Good, balanced article PAUL67.
Excellent article Paul67.
Latter day failures should not detract from viewing the entire Lawwell era in a fair way.
Yes, some mistakes and difficult times along the way as well but 29 trophies in 17 years, including a 9IAR, a Quad Treble (1 of which was undefeated), and keeping the club in good financial shape whist the huns liquidated means I will view his tenure as a success.
Peter’s book should be out in time for next Christmas. What a cracker that’s going to be. I’ll be checking Amazon every day nearer the time :)), por cierto
Welcome to Celtic, Dominic McKay.
Remember to do all the things posters on here are saying you should do.
Otherwise…..ye’ll no be any good.
Best wishes!
You omitted the huge increase in remuneration relative to turnover; active sabotage of Res 12; disastrous interference in football matters; pathetic performance in Europe relative to other clubs from small leagues of our stature; consistently shocking football management recruitment; abysmal player recruitment (for every Demebele we’ve had 10 Paddy’s Market Amido Baldes); an unforgivable collapse in our once in a lifetime season; complete and arrogant breakdown of relations with the supporters; and, worst of all, surrendering all momentum to a newly reconstituted Rangers, which is likely to endure for years to come. WE ALL FEARED LENNON WOULD BLOW IT BECAUSE HE’S A POOR MANAGER. THIS ISN’T WISDOM AFTER THE EVENT.
So in summary his legacy is once again, a strong ‘Rangers’, a weak Celtic, an immediate need for a complete reboot of the club, a riven ‘Celtic Family’, all our financial advantages pissed up against a wall and one very rich, retiring CEO.
Big Celtic man we’re told. He got rich in Celtic. A true Celtic man are the tens of thousands without a pot to piss in watching on aghast at where Lawwell is leaving us, having spent money they can’t afford to ensure the 10 was secured.
A don’t think ‘owning a bad season’ begins to cover it.
Good riddance and don’t let the door hit you on the way out Peter.
PS we should have been more dominant during the years we had 10 times the turnover over of our nearest rival. Unprecedented dominance indeed!
Paul
A generous piece to the departing CEO
I can’t argue with the prevailing mood of wishing him well, while being frustrated at the failings which I feel history will record outweigh the successes.
Looks like a fairly magnanimous series of fare-thee-well posts based on Paul’s article.
Afraid I am a tad more focused on our outgoing CEO’s failings – gently referenced by James Forrest above.
Celtic’s fundamentals – overwhelming size compared to almost all of the opposition, stadium, fan-base, etc. – made relative financial success very achievable for any moderately competent CEO.
It is those other issues – governance / lack of ambition and vision – apparent over several years that fatally poison the well for me – failing to achieve 10 in a row pales against those failings.
This season’s shambles – and a monumental shambles it certainly has been – will certainly NOT be the main thing that taint’s his legacy – at least not for me.
HH
BGFC
ONENIGHTINLISBON on 29TH JANUARY 2021 12:37 PM
Losing the ten, not the worst…..hilarious.
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losing a league or cup is always possible , its the manner in how we caved in and the excuses used that i cannot understand.
Hopefully the new CEO doesn’t have to lie to the fans or treat them with contempt…..
The job has been done by CELTIC we kept Rangers relevant and now Peter and Lenny are paying the price .
if DD has evened the score , can we now build for Europe and future leagues now Rangers have their 1/55 and the pressure of 10 is off .
i wish the new guy all the best .
A very well balanced article Paul . Peter Lawwell would probably have been looked upon more kindly by the support If the structure at Celtic had included a Director of football . Hopefully this will be part of the new structure under Dominic Mackay’s stewardship . Lines between roles should not be blurred .
Lambert 14
From your 20 odd postings in the last 24 hours, I get the feeling that you were not a fan on of Peter Lawwell! You are, of course, welcome to voice your opinion(s) but as it’s a nice day out why not take the dog for a walk and give your PC a rest!
I have been going to Celtic games since 1049 and, though PL has made some momentous bloomers, his tenure at the club has been, as a whole, one of the most enjoyable periods of supporting my team! He is now in his 70s and I wish him a long and happy retirement!
Finally, can we, for god’s sake, give the ‘heated driveway’ story a rest. The heated driveway was in situ when PL bought the house and if he wanted to get shot of it, it would have cost him over £1000!
Hail! Hail!
P67 — what are the chances we finish PL’s time in charge with a lower T/O than when we started?
T/O = vanity
Profitability = sanity
Cash position = reality.
2002/03 — we generated £2mill in positive cashflow that season.
That is where we were at in 2002/03.
Not some nonsense about an amotisation inflated loss on paper.
TM — you are having a laugh.
PL was useless / hopeless / clueless in equal measure.
We are paying a heavy price for his lack of ability.
TERRYMAC on 29TH JANUARY 2021 12:59 PM
“He is now in his 70s and I wish him a long and happy retirement!”
He’s not in his 70s bud, he’s a mere 61, por cierto
“I have been going to Celtic games since 1049 ”
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did the Norman Conquest have much of an affect on cross-border transfers?
terrymac
What did they Norman Conks ever do for us?
Sorry paul, but BR won 7 trophies and sent us on the way to a treble treble and not back to back, he already achieved that.
This was one of the biggest problems we had, as to why he left. He couldn’t work with PL.
Cant re-write history.
Good luck PL I wish all the best but I am glad you have left.
Welcome dominic heres hoping that not far down your list is to ensure a level playing field and the rest will follow.
HH
Will there be a new manager coming in , if not are we going with this squad till the new guy comes in
( if there is a new guy ) ?
Lets All do the Huddle 1:06pm
I bet Barkas stayed on his line !
Does bringing in a rugby man mean that Ryan Christie’s shots over the bar will now score points? :-)
On a more serious note, PL presided over a truly fantastic period and kept us solvent. Yes, mistakes have been made but who doesn’t do that?
I’m sure he’ll be appreciated in years to come, just like Fergus is now but wasn’t back then.
Good luck to the new man.
Big Time Maybe
2.25 Lingfield, bet responsibly…
For years on here posters in the Lawwell camp have demanded to know who could possibly replace him.
It’s funny to think that the answer has been right under our noses the whole time.
P67 — big sharp suit ??? !!! ???
You are having a giraffe with stuff like that.
PL has played a good handvery badly.
He leaves with the loss of 3 CL qualifications hanging over him.
This season is just symptom.
The cause was his ego / his fall out with BR / and his lack of vision and ability.
HEADTHEBALL on 29TH JANUARY 2021 1:13 PM
‘ Yes, mistakes have been made but who doesn’t do that?’
###
The handling of Res 12 wasn’t a mistake, though, was it?
It was a sustained process of dissembling and deceit.
ERNIE LYNCH;
He was never all he was cracked up to be. Whatever special skills people accredited him with, we’d have got the same from just about any half-decent, competent administrator over the same period. If Lawwell hadn’t interefered in so many areas that were not his purview, or if he had stood up for us where it mattered and helped really reform the game, then not only Celtic but all of Scottish football would have owed him a debt.
This is how it ends though, in failure and with most of us pretty pleased he’s gone.
The new guy will do just fine if he sticks to his own areas of expertise I’ll be happy enough. If he delivers some much needed truth and reform at the SFA I’ll be even happier.
Once we have the right management team the football operation will take care of itself, as long as it’s left to itself. The board’s job is to find them the money and then get out of their way.
JAMES FORREST on 29TH JANUARY 2021 1:24 PM
The club will do what the club’s owner wants it to do. God only knows what that is.
If Dominic has been paying attention, he will appoint a DoF and a manager/ head coach, and stay well out the road.
not sure where Dominic lives but do we have an update on his driveway yet?
LAMBERT14 on 29TH JANUARY 2021 10:17 AM
Auldheid
I’m hoping that with Lawwell going that the res 12/11 issues may be looked at in a different light by the board.
If McKay wants to be seen to do right by the fans then this would be the correct way to start.
====================================
Funnily enough the CST asked if I wanted to put a specific proposal on the agenda focusing on what I believe is a fundamental issue of football governance.
It was an encouraging question but my response was that in view of the Res12 experience there was no point until PL had left the scene so that excuse has now gone.
The process would be that ANY CST member could draft a proposal to be tabled at the CST AGM in March April for debate and if it had merit the CST Membership would vote on it and if passed the proposal would then become a resolution to be sent to Celtic once 100 shareholder signatures obtained. If that can be done during Covid restrictions from a small group of 130 shareholders for 2020 AGM then it should be a dawdle for the CST with 1200 members at present.
Hopefully that number will increase as non shareholders are as welcome as shareholders and such a Resolution would be seen to be in the interest of every supporter , sick of the charade this current title “race” has become and knowing the truth about the last 10 years of covering up the previous ten. I mean imagine Scottish football where the reforms suggested 10 years ago
http://celticunderground.net/sfa-reform-one-down-three-to-go/
that were conveyed to PL at the time, became reality.
The Celtic support, if they want to put in the effort, will never get a better chance of changing the toxic culture of Scottish football then will exist in the next 6 months.
AULDHEID on 29TH JANUARY 2021 1:20 PM
ERNIE LYNCH on 29TH JANUARY 2021 12:46 PM
I see where you are coming from but back in the history of CQN and Res12 the requisitioners heard that in a meeting in Dublin DD asked PL what is this Resolution 12 stuff?
The answer from PL was not for DD to worry about it as once Rangers returned it would disappear, or words to that effect.
Now allowing for that being true and the requisitioners having no reason to doubt it, decided to shake the tree a bit. It was a while ago but BRTH commented on CQN and changed the tone from “we are all in it together” to “that ain’t necessarily so.”
It would be around March 2015 but I could be a year out.
Anyhoo if that was the nature of the discussion it suggests DD was leaving the running of the Res12 show with PL but where your point might apply is that it is unlikely DD did not know what Celtic were accepting under the 5 WA .
Against that would be did he know enough of the detail to ask questions about the impact on support or would he leave that to his highly paid CEO?
There just isn’t enough evidence to be sure, but another factor is how much the intelligence of the support has been underestimated and that is an unconscious factor based on comments by Bankier at 2019 AGM and in correspondence.
My view is that the greatest threat to Celtic’s well being is from an organisation at Ibrox with kamikaze pilots in charge, supported by other clubs via the SFA and from a corporate “risk reduction” perspective they need brought under control by the measures I suggested in the link I posted earlier about SFA reform.
Having read a short appraisal of new CEO incumbent it appears he has good connections in Holyrood and the corporate world. Most welcome.
Thanks Peter, wish you all the best.
Thanks for unprecedented success but also for guiding the ship through the worst football cheat in sporting history.
Thank Goodness Peter the Liar is leaving the building.
Good Riddance
An Old Firm puppet that sevco relied on to do there bidding.
Now what about a new management team?
D :)
There = Their