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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I wonder what the tipping point was?
RTB – He won’t be in place in April when the title is decided
I think that´s a brilliant sum up Paul of where the club has come in the last 20 years. Your contributions during all these years have been of the same high standard.
Peter Lawwell has undoubtedly been THE figure since he was appointed CEO in 2003. He should be judged over the whole of his 17 year tenure. However I´m sure he wouldn´t have liked to go like this, he has been the fan in the double-breasted suit that got lucky……..but then his luck ran out.
The new CEO does not seem to have any football background so I cannot imagine him picking a manager. Does that mean there will be a new director of football and a manager as well? I hope so,
What can I say about Frimpong? The guy who reinstated my faith in Dutch people and those called Jeremie. What an amazing talent he is and we sell him to Bayer Leverkusen. He left all his fans here a wonderful message when he went though, like Timothy Weah in his day too. We need a new director of football soon, the summer is too late, before any more rough diamonds get away.
GENE on 29TH JANUARY 2021 5:07 PM
I was wondering who would be the first one to spot that, well done Gene :-)
On a personal issue I finally got the all clear from my colonography I had on Christmas Eve. Needed to chase them a couple of times which is understandable given the pressure on the NHS.
Just need to find out what’s up but at least it’s nothing serious.
RIMTIMTIM on 29TH JANUARY 2021 5:07 PM
‘The new CEO does not seem to have any football background so I cannot imagine him picking a manager.’
###
What football background is needed to appoint a manager, and who in authority at Celtic possesses such a background?
Interesting read on the Celtic Star about John Collins as DoF.
https://thecelticstar.com/opinion-john-collins-perfect-for-the-director-of-football-vacancy-at-celtic/
therapy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DYiLcdze3Y
GENE on 29TH JANUARY 2021 5:19 PM
Glad to hear about your results bud, great news! por cierto
Gene – Good news.
D :)
14:50 tomorrow afternoon,
on the celtic way
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Es0sBuyXYAITLCv?format=jpg&name=large
Emerald
Not s bad shout
Sunday 21 February Ross County v Celtic 7.30PM
What a time for football.
D :)
GENE on 29TH JANUARY 2021 5:19 PM
These type of things hanging over you are very uncomfortable, a welcome relief I’m sure👍
Saint Stivs – 😂
Surely the only way is up.
D :)
GENE,
Thats very good news mate.
HH.
The Fat Charlie Thug only gets a 3 Game Ban.
Shocking…he is gonna seriously injure someone one day…and if that happens, I hope he gets SUED in the Courts and charged by the Polis…Scum bag Coward Dud !
DAVID66..
I left you a wee message on the last thread.
I hope that you and the family are well and staying safe.
HH Mate.
Never been too bothered or agitated about Boardroom matters but it would be churlish not to welcome the new guy and to wish the old guy a happy retirement..
I get more upset about Ian Bankier’s tone-deaf patronising instructions to the Celtic fans to “Behave!” than I do about frugality in the transfer market and the failure to attract managers of the calibre of Fabio Fabuloso or Sven Goingapeshitson.
That said, Peter Lawell was vastly overpaid for running a company the size of Celtic and he was guilty of lying to everyone involved in Res. 12 and over the 5 way agreement. I would have more respect for him if he had directly opposed it or said nothing but it takes a truly duplicitous man to pretend to encourage the process whilst secretly scheming to bury it. You cannot ride those two horses and claim any integrity.
In the end, the sentiments of PL and DD were found to be more in accord with the sentiments of the overall Celtic support in wanting Rangersevco “back” so we could lord it over them for a little while. The sentiment on here and, latterly, on Sentinel Celts with occasional support from E-tims, was swamped by the sentiment of non-blogging Celtic fans who wanted an Ibrox team to be their plaything for a while. Well, we got what we wanted and now we don’t like it.
I cannot see the new guy changing very much. We are stil a plc and BRTH’s long article from last year indicated the level of challenge we face as fans to influence the heavy votes of the institutional shareholders. The Celtic Trust initiative is a great starting point but it will face a tremendous challenge in trying to prevent a unified picture of what Celtic fans want and in what order they want the priorities addressed.
Football is a mad busines- we are spending a lot of time debating a CEO and his qualities when we don’t know, publicly, what his aims or strategies are, so we are reduced to imagining them and criticising on the basis of precious little real info. It’s like celebrity gossip at times.
Our transfer window shuts on Sunday night. We have not landed any new defenders and have sold one on. We have Jullien out for most of the remaining campaign where 2nd place and a Scottish Cup is still up for grabs. Are we really hapy to go with Ralston, Ajer, Elhamed, Duffy, Bitton, Welsh, Laxalt and Taylor to see us through? What if Ajer gets sold or Duffy gets injured- we will not have a CB set up to compete with the relegation-threatened clubs.
My final point on the new CEO is wondeing if he is Phil Mac’s “Rugger Guy” or our own poster with a Rugby background, MadMitch. I look forward to hearing MM’s critiques of himself in his new role :-)
A mixed bag on PLs departure – one thought from me
MSM – not one bit of speculation on our CEO going and more importantly not one bit of reporting into
a) People applying for his job
b) The recruitment process (assuming there was one)
c) Not a dicky bird on Dominic McKay
How did they keep that quiet !!!!!
67ECW
There was a Mock The Week joke last night that is applicable to the situation of a CEO leaving after the 10 iar campaign has been lost :-
“It’s like putting on a condom at your son’s graduation!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PorRy_S_vus
given the day that’s in it’s in it
mon the pablo/pablophonque
Jim Kerr went to the cellic gig in Athenry
with jinky ‘n all sorts
drank a year’s worth of Guinness
I saw the veiled suggestion from James Forrest’s article on drug taking in Sport, that Gerrard’s “Invincibles-elect” may have used such nefarious measures.
Given how grumpy and angry Morelos is on the football field, I reckon that when they administered his caffeine enema, they forgot to take the beans out of the Maxwell House jar before administering.
Outrage from wee Nic:
“What? Are you telling me that those nice Rugby chaps can be Celtic Supporters as well? 🤔 🤨”
😂😂😂
P.S. I hope no politicians or animals were harmed in the making of the hopefully humorous complete fabrication above! 😊
GARCIA LORCA on 29TH JANUARY 2021 5:47 PM
Eloquently put – 100%
BTW Im a bit of a fan of PL he done more good than harm
but lately……….
In addition to not calling out the Huns
Not backing Brendan, not buying Mcginn and taking the easy route with NL
Poor decisions from a top CEO
But i would still buy him a pint
67ECW
Fast Track Notice of Complaint | Alfredo Morelos, Player, Rangers FC
Friday 29 January 2021
Player: Alfredo Morelos, Rangers FC
Match: Hibernian FC v Rangers FC
Date: Wednesday 27 January 2021
Competition: Scottish Premiership
Disciplinary Rule allegedly breached: Disciplinary Rule 200: Where any one of the sending off offences of (A1) serious foul play, (A2) violent conduct, and (A3) spitting at an opponent or any other person is committed by a player at a match, but that sending off offence was not seen by any of the match officials at the time that it was committed, the mandatory suspension for that sending off offence as provided for in Annex C of the Judicial Panel Protocol shall be applied to the player.
Any Fast Track Notice of Complaint alleging a breach of this Rule shall be Determined by a Fast Track Tribunal subject to the provisions of Section 13.
Fast Track Tribunal Hearing: Tuesday 2 February 2021
SFTB
Dominic McKay is not Phil Mac’s “rugger guy”.
Rugger Guy is a Tim though.
PL saw the ‘old firm’ decision to be for the benefit of Celtic – he saw ‘generate income which could be used for onfield success’ as being for the benefit of the club. This has led to the schism with the club and the interference with playerpurchase/managerinstinct which has led to the unforgiveable – we let the cheats stop the ten!
Hence , DD has a tipping point
btw, I wouldn’t have a bulls notion about how to run a club
AULDHEID on 29TH JANUARY 2021 2:00 PM
Thanks, email sent.
HH
RTT-The new CEO does not seem to have any football background so I cannot imagine him picking a manager.
Didn’t stop Lawwell…..
HOT SMOKED on 29TH JANUARY 2021 4:04 PM
GO TELL THE SPARTIM on 29TH JANUARY 2021 3:58 PM
Do you honestly believe that one person`s opinion is as valid as another`s REGARDLESS of how well or how poorly informed either conributor is?
‐——————————————————————————
Glad that’s your viewpoint Hot Smoked, I agree with you, is that the first time it’s ever happened? This truly is a momentous day.
Now in conversations with 4 ex Celtic players and 1 ex Celtic staff member who worked very closely with Peter, each and everyone is of the opinion that PL interfered in football matters and the one ex staff member described him as a “total nightmare to work for.
So I’m happy to see you’ll be giving these opinions the gravitas they deserve. Or does that only work one way?
This is a great day for our football club, you may not realise it today but time will tell. Our healing process has begun. This is our biggest win of the season.
Shame we had to destroy such an important season to get here.
Good luck Peter I can wish you all the best personally in life while recognising your toxic influence on our football club and the name of sport in general.
The sport should always be protected you failed big time in that regard.
GENE on 29TH JANUARY 2021 5:19 PM
Good to hear, hope you get definitive news soon.
STV quoting a John Paul Dykes, who never ever seems to have anything good to say about Celtic.
Burnley 78
‘Demoted’
Please.you are smarter than that my friend.
HH