BRENDAN RODGERS took the opportunity to defend former Hoops recruitment chief Mark Lawwell at today’s AGM at Celtic Park.
The son of chairman Peter left his post just before the end of last season after there had been criticism from some quarters about his contribution to the champions.
It was Lawwell, of course, who was instrumental in bringing in Ange Postecoglou from J-League outfit Yokohama F Marinos in June 2021 as the club searched for a permanent managerial replacement for Neil Lennon who had left Parkhead in February.
THE LAST HURRAH…Ange Postecoglou glances at the Scottish Cup at the end of season 2022/23. The newly-won silverware was his fifth trophy in two years as Celtic manager.
Eddie Howe remained indecisive as he pondered his next move after leaving Bournemouth. That triggered the move for the ex-Australia World Cup team chief – and the startling revival in the fortunes of the club that had just completed their first trophyless season in 11 years.
Rodgers, who replaced the Spurs-bound team chief in June last year for his second stint in the Hoops dug-out, said: “Mark did a fantastic job at Celtic. Every player won’t succeed. Mark’s influence in bringing in Ange was huge.
“If that was his only contribution, he did a fantastic job. But he influenced bringing in Alistair Johnston and some of these other guys. All the players won’t work out who come in here – and I know that as a manager and a coach.
“My experience of working with Mark was second to none. He decided to go down a different route, and I respect that. But I also sit here in his defence, because he’s a massive Celtic supporter.
“Like Peter, in the Celtic family, they want nothing but the best for Celtic.”
THE MAN BEHIND POSTECOGLOU…former Celtic recruitment chief Mark Lawwell.
Rodgers added: “Sometimes in that role as recruitment, like it is as a manager, you bring in a player and it just might not quite work out for whatever reason.
“But, finally, what I do know, is that his intention was for the very, very best for Celtic and for that I will defend him.”
The aforementioned Johnston, who has been a stand-out since his £3.75million arrival from MLS club CF Montreal in January 2021, has just signed a new long-term deal until the summer of 2029, as CQN reported earlier in the day.
