The real story of Celtic in Scottish football in recent decades will never be written, hidden in a fog of “You can’t use that”, the most-spoken words in the game. Suffice to say, Peter Lawwell carried responsibility for successes and failures for most of that period, 18 years when he was liable for them, three when he was not.
Let’s break that rule for one matter. In October 2011 he learned Rangers, then under the control of Craig Whyte, were planning to present a take-it-or-leave-it option to the Scottish Premier League and SFA. Mired in debt with three HMRC claims against them, they wanted to liquidate, phoenix and have Newco Rangers complete Oldco’s fixtures. They were 10 points clear at the top of the table and the plan would have left them debt-free, with a points penalty but able to sign players in January.
When the story broke the following February, some in the media, administrators and some clubs presented the issue as a question of survival or extinction for Scottish football. “It will invalidate the TV deal”, “No one will come if there is no contest”, we were told.
I heard from Peter before I wrote this article on 27 October 2011 on the prepack route for Rangers Newco FC. He started the campaign, saying “We need to stop this. Get fans and other clubs involved.” He believed Celtic, having lived within their means while watching Rangers carry-off the previous three league titles, would never recover if Newco Rangers were able to phoenix and carry on as though nothing had happened. He knew it would have killed Celtic and worked to make sure it did not happen.
He called campaigning on the subject almost every day until the SPL vote in July 2012, when 10 voted against inviting Newco into the Premier League, with Kilmarnock abstaining and Rangers voting to permit Newco. A friend recently said “We’ve been lucky to win so many trophies with Rangers [sic.} nowhere.” Luck had nothing to it. This was a battle of existence, a battle for trophies and domination of Scottish football for years to come. The unprecedented haul which followed was a consequence of Lawwell’s decisions and ability to lobby other clubs. Craig Whyte had no idea what he was taking on.
In the club statement announcing his departure last week, Dermot Desmond wrote, “During Peter’s tenure, Celtic found a strong voice in Scottish football”. It cannot be over-stated how antagonistic much of Scottish football was to Celtic 21 years ago, or the change he effected during this time. Clubs did not necessarily like Celtic (or Peter), but they listened. Changes happened at the SFA and among match officials which were unthinkable in earlier times.
He left citing alarm for his family. Four years ago his home was subject to an arson attack, which thankfully damaged only property. Nine days after the attack, Eddie Howe declined to come to Celtic, as a toxic cloud rose about the club. I was surprised when he agreed to step back as chair in 2022. Celtic assessed that influence was needed, specifically at Uefa, on the proposed Financial Sustainability Regulations, which he substantially co-wrote.
This helped keep a lid on irresponsible spending in Scottish football but brought him attention he was no longer due. The biggest name attracted most angst, at a time when Lawwell had no controls over the club. Of the mistakes he will admit to making, coming back as chair will surely be the first.
He remains a very private man who came from the most working class, of working class, Glasgow environments, and who reached heights usually scaled by those with a leg-up in life. His key acquired benefit was a work ethic from a mother, the original formidale Lawwell, who held multiple jobs to support her family. Kids his age were allowed on the supporters’ bus for free. “Can I get a lift over, mister” was his ticket to a lifetime’s devotion to Celtic.
In the club’s statement, Lawwell and Desmond both refer to the 38 trophies won during his period at the club as one of “domestic dominance”. It was a generation and more of domination, and was the work of another formidable operator.
Running Celtic is probably now close to an impossible job. Few of the calibre to get the top job would want it with its unyielding abuse. We will likely pass from an time of Celtic fans in executive roles, to being another step on the football exec train.
The last few weeks have been tumultuous, to say the least. The sheer relief around the stadium on Sunday at some respite was palpable. We will find soon enough if a new seam of success has opened up for Celtic. Until then, remember those who gave you Celtic and what we can achieve with the sense of community that saw the club through enormous challenges. Take care and have a happy and restful Christmas.
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Why, hello Wednesday!
Happy Christmas Eve all.
HH!
Incoming…..
Where is everybody? Formulating responses to the article?
Overdue…
Was Lawwell a prolific goal scorer for Hillwood Boys Club in the late 1970s? He’s the right age and they did have a high scoring forward called Peter Lawwell. Have always wondered if the man could play a bit in his youth…
Merry Christmas all and here’s to a better 2026 for Celtic.
Thing is….Peter never went the whole hog….in ANY other sport…titles are stripped for cheating…he could have DEMANDED this…he didn’t….bad for business..
Great tribute Paul.
Peter Lawwell deserves enormous credit for his time at Celtic. If only his hate-filled detractors knew how difficult his childhood was, they might think twice before casting the next stone.
But then again, probably not.
Peter and I went to different schools together.
Good God Paul do you not have any self respect? How can you be so sycophantic to a random accountant who in all likelihood has zero respect for you. Running Celtic is not an impossible job.
I rattled out a script on PL’s time as Chair, hit Post Comment and got a ‘you need to be logged in to post’ screen. WTAF!
That’s worth some prize profanity, let me tell you.
TL:DR
He was less effective as Chair than as CEO, no surprise as the characteristics that made him effective as CEO were counter-productive as a Chair.
His board paid lip service to governance, decision making was separated from accountability, and the executive team were in essence just managing the operation. There has been no attempt to engender consensus, the club’s leadership is confrontational and relatedly, we seem to have canned the PR department and now permit everyone to write their own briefings to no good effect. PL’s own statement recently being a case in point. The club is riddled with bad vibes.
Put Rubicon in the big seat. He understands the role from inside and out, knows the corporate ropes and is a Celtic supporter to his marrow.
That’s a serious suggestion.
[Select All¬ Copy¬Post Comment]
FFSCSC
KevJungle
PS, Auldheid, this auld fella called, “God”, gave me a thing callled an, “Immune System”, dunno if you have ever heard of it before but I would imagine he would have given you one as well?!
==//
Here is a really funny thing.
As most folk know I had succesfull treatment for cancer by NHS Angels.
I called them that throughout the treatment when expressing my gratitude to them for caring.
However that treatment reduced my immune system but the after care saw that and so I was vacciinated to help my immune system cope with winter ills that get more dangerous in advancing years.
Funny how life works intit?
Here is a wee story I last told to a nurse last week explaining why I used the term Angels.
There is a man on the roof of his house taking refuge from riding flood water.
A neighbour comes by in a canoe and shouts ” Jump in, I will take us to safety:
The man on roof replies ” its ok, God will save me.”
The waters rise and guy is on highest part of roof when a police speed boat arrives.
Same as before ” God will save me”
Half an hour later he is clinging to chimney stack when a helicopter drops a rope ladder shouting “climb up” but gets same reply. ” God will save me”
Sure enough the man is swept away to drown but just before he goes under he cries ” God, why did you not save me”
The clouds part a sunbeam comes through and God replies.
“Who do you think sent you a canoe, a speed boat and a helicopter”?
TML,
Yes ,I am sure not one of the fans from PLs era had any hardship at all.Gods curse these fans born with a silver spoon in their mouths,showing displeasure.That man,unlike anyone else from that time,suffered.You are a condescending prick at times.
Next month,petitions sent to the Vatican to get Peter canonized.
For the record,I did not dislike PL at the beginning of his tenure.As they say,power corrupts,and sadly,he was not immune .
Dearie me…..
Really good stuff Paul.
Respect.
I subscribe to your “will never be written” view
Scottish football was a very dirty, very anti-Celtic place … with close to 100 years of rock solid entrenchment underpinning it.
I can’t begin to imagine the extent of the hold-your-nose, smile-at-your-enemy, keep-your-nerve requirement deployed to force change through.
Peter Lawwell doesn’t score 100% in my book
But he gets a good pass mark all day long
A few weeks back someone on here cited Ian Maxwell as a CEO exemplar.
Jesus wept.
How great must your hatred of the Celtic suits be … for you to be washed ashore on that particular sewage ridden beach …
… and think you’ve happened upon an idyll ?
Brilliant article P67.
Hope every Celtic fan all over the world has a great Christmas.
Well said, Paul. Hard to imagine that a plucky little underdog like Celtic would have won more than 2 or 3 of those titles with anyone else in the role.
It never ceases to amaze me how many in the English media have been taken in by the Sir Alex Ferguson was a great manager myth, citing his trophy haul at Man Utd, when of course it was really all down to the brilliance of the CEOs he worked under.
The only reason to cut Peter Lawwell some slack is Dermot Desmond . Not the kind of man to grant autonomy to anyone. As for hard upbringings , that will resonate with probably 95% of the Celtic support .
Surely anyone in peters position would have done the same….maybe more….
Peter Lawwell undoubtedly did some positive things during his tenure.
However he underachieved and made major contributions to the current disconnect between club and ‘custodians’. Like mist modern business people, i believe he was out of touch with the realities of the ‘customer experience’ and their lives. Being working class by upbringing does not give you permanent understanding or empathy with that class when you become very wealthy. There are many many examples of working class kids made good financially totally turning their babk on their originating class.
I wish him a peaceful retirement in the same way I do any person. But we should look at the big picture of his tenure – we should be way further forward as a FOOTBALL club than we are. The academy, recruitment, sports science etc etc are just not quite up to ‘world class’ in everything we do standards – the proof of that pudding is on the park at present.
In the spirit of reconciliation at our club, I’ll refrain from mentioning the knowledge of the 5-way agreement, the inactivity of pressuring the SFA cabal on stripping titles and his meglomaniac like interference in our signing of players. I wish Peter the happiest of retirements, with the stipulation that the door doesn’t hit him on the arse.
Merry Christmas everyone.🎅
Paul 67,
When they shout ” Sack the board ” who would replace the sacked ?
We are creating a toxic environment where no individual would would put his / her family in the firing line.
HH.
Did he protest at the fact Sevco were allowed to leapfrog all other teams who had applied to join the SFL? Did he protest at Sevco ultimately being called “Rangers”?…
And they called itconspiracy theories
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/25721428.glasgow-city-council-approve-new-15-minute-city-plan/
Merry Christmas, RobertT, and to any other spirits of CQN-past who may be looking in.
“Did he protest at the fact Sevco were allowed to leapfrog all other teams who had applied to join the SFL? Did he protest at Sevco ultimately being called “Rangers”?…”
I spoke with the then chairman of Spartans at that time. In round numbers, he said it was delusional to think that Scottish football would vote to accept Spartans into the league ahead of the new Rangers.
Every team in Scotland below the SPL was salivating in Pavlovian style at the prospect of being served up two home gates (minimum) versus the new club. Add on the inevitable TV deal.
Of all things going on at that time that PL had any influence over, who made up Club 42 was not one of them.
Thanks P67; I read that as a largely affectionate and sober appreciation of big Peter’s work at our club.
I feel history will remember his contribution to Celtic FC – domestically and Euro representation – well, but at the moment many cannot see the quality of the endeavours, for the fervour around what’s not been handled so well (of which there has been ‘five ways’ or more that have been managed less-than-brilliantly).
Still, the abuse that execs and functionaries are subjected to nowadays (thanks a bundle social media) is unheralded and sometimes underserved. Happens at Killie, The Huns, Wolves etc – the customer is always right supposedly.
I reckon PL was a real Celtic man and, just as much, a real bean counter; and the money man got the upper hand.
I hope he finds peace and quiet in his retirement.
And that we find a replacement of an even higher calibre.
It’s officially Xmas Day now here in Oz; so, best wishes to Paul for running this place and letting us all frequent it.
HH all.
PL does not leave Celtic in a good place at all, the squad is a shambles, a Coach appointed who is a novice in European terms, a total disconnect with some of the support/shareholders, stadium bans for some, zero meaningful communication on the direction of the club from here , money in the bank that will act like the tarpaulins of old to cover for failure to grow football income by being in the CL , he is gone he should stay away, when Fergus took over I was excitedly optimistic, now I’m fearful as the Club/plc is not in alignment , hell knows what is in front of the support.
Oh aye,and plenty can cite a difficult upbringing where education was the only way out, what you had was between your ears or what you were standing up in. He is not a one off in that scenario.
Well said Paul. No doubt those who know better will have a pop. However 38 trophies in his tenure is a fantastic result.
Hail Hail
MTT
TBB
Thanks for answering….still doesn’t make it right…
Wilfrid Nancy saying he will look at the present squad, before making decisions on new players coming ,we’ll Wilfrd your defence needs at least 3 strong athlete defenders,also a winger and a striker,get it done ASAP
I expected a glowing testament to Lawwell—- fairly low key with a little fairytale to the backdrop of a violin.
The good news is that he and his son are out of the club.
Dermot cleaning up —- Rodgers, Kennedy, Lawwell….next Nicholson the imposter.
More of an international flavour to the replacements Nancy, Tisdale….rather then “local Celtic men”
Time will tell.
Merry Christmas to all especially the support who are Celtic FC not a bunch of charlatans who should never be on the Celtic Board.
We will likely pass from an time of Celtic fans in executive roles, to being another step on the football exec train.
—-
Imagine writing g this and thinking it was a bad thing ?! My goodness.
Should we only go for players that support Celtic ?
Let’s get some professional execs and kick the ‘fans’ like Lawwell, McKay and Nicholson into touch.
Lawwell’s leaving statement will be his Celtic legacy. It won’t reflect well on him.
Its not what you do that matters.
Its the way that you do it and so it is time to call the whole thing off.
I reckon if PL were to write a book explaining what he saw as the right thing to do, it would make no difference because of his failure to keep supporters happy.
Two things I would love to hear from him nevertheless for his sake not mine is
Why he went along with the 5WA as I think he has a story to tell
and
What was Infantino”s reply to PLs letter of May 2012 drawing Infantino”s attention to Rangers use of ebts that might have implications for UEFA.
It is the greatest of pities that in order to do what he saw as the right thing for Celtic, he had to resort to hiding the truth and misleading, but I can understand better now the Sophies Choice he faced.
Glad I wasnt in his shoes.
auldheid
Pray tell who was in the room when the 5WA (final version) was presented for agreement by the 5 Party (s) ?
I could tell who wasn’t in the room if you are interested.
38 Trophies says it all . Respect .
A glowing tribute indeed: infallible, immaculate, spotless.
Anyway, Merry Christmas to all Celts around the world!
Three at last, thank god almighty we got three at last.
Wilfried arrived in Parkhead last Sunday even if that unique Celtic feel good factor hasn’t quite caught up in the stands, he smiled a Celtic smile. The likes of which perhaps not seen since Michael Nicholson welcomed him jet lagged at Lennoxtown, MON had the ‘time of his life ’ Wilfried, not so far.
In every press conference he has said the same as most supporters, and bemoaned ‘ the missed chances ‘. Until Sunday they had led to missed points. Celtic warts and all, were far ahead of Dundee Utd midweek, in a game we should never have lost, against Aberdeen, with 31 attempts on goal somethings going right.
Whilst it’s clear, the timing of arrival was definitely poorly planned, the concept of Wilfried Nancy and what he could achieve might yet be born around Christmas. Livingston and Motherwell away towns, where we’re unlikely to get 31 chances combined. The scoring ratio has to somehow increase, to see a quick return of Parkhead semi contentment and normality.
No change in format that leaves the back door wide open, a bit like Brazil but without the players. Daizen Maeda still usually makes up for basic instincts with hard work and persistence young Johnny Kenny under contract till 2029 makes a good pupil, with a great teacher.
Benny Nygren was due a start after bench warming, he celebrates all his goals as if he’d won a medal, maybe he will one day. Reo Hatate struggled at Tannadice and was rested, as he will be crucial in the coming weeks as we search for a settled side. Impact subbing worked for WN, Donovan’s late swinging cross not previously seen in the game eluded the backline and found KT nodding home into the Celtic end. Not the same Celtic late winner level of elation but who knows how vital that goal may prove. Within seconds sub Jamesie popped up to put the icing on the cake for a well deserved Celtic win after fine play from Nygren and CalMac
Celtic legend James Forrest continued his incredible sequence. The Prestwick Flyer – a bhoy wonder immortalised with a goal for Celtic, it seems like every year since the centenary season in 1988 – time flies when you’re enjoying yourself.
So to, Livingston I presume.
Merry Christmas 🎄
God bless Celtic Glasgow and every supporter wherever you are.
Hail Hail