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Lawwell the formidable operator

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

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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  3. TexasTim on

    Hi Aipple,

     

     

    Enjoying a Lagavulin after Christmas Mass with the family (holy goalie not my thing, I would add).

     

    Heading over to our neighbour’s annual soirée soon.

     

     

    We have tickets for Haiti and Morocco in Boston so far and Airbnb for Miami. Can’t wait to see your Loovil Lass and you there!

  7. Aipple on

    TEXASTIM

     

     

    In the lottery for both Boston games but hotel and flights are in the bag.

     

     

    Some other lurkers from on here seem to be popping along.

     

     

    Can’t wait to share a pint!

  15. lionroars67 on

    Merry Christmas

     

     

    Christianity is prevalent especially within right wing politicians

     

     

    The article below gives room for thought on Christmas Day

     

     

    As John Fugelsang, who runs the risk of becoming this era’s ablest political commentator, reminds us, “The Christmas economy depends on people buying possessions to celebrate the birthday of the man who renounced possessions.”

     

     

    The author of this year’s best-selling objection to the abuses of religion and politics by right-wing Christian nationalists, Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Person’s Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists, and Flock-Fleecing Frauds, Fugelsang is a decent and good-humored fellow who has no desire to snow on our Christmas fun. He simply wants to remind us of biblical entreaties that tend to be lost on right-wing zealots who claim—as President Donald Trump has—that “Christianity is under tremendous siege” by liberal do-gooders.

     

    “Jesus consistently sided with the underdogs, not the privileged and powerful,” writes Fugelsang. “Broad-minded, tolerant, and way too inclusive for the ultraconservatives of his day, the Nazarene modeled generosity and selflessness, and told his followers to share their resources and prioritize the well-being of other people over personal gain.”

     

     

    Fugelsang further reminds us:

     

     

    Jesus stood up to…the authoritarians among then religious leaders, drunk on their own eminence.

     

     

    The wealthy, worshiping their own stature and possessions while denying the suffering of the poor.

     

     

    The capitalists in the temple, greedily exploiting poor believers.

     

     

    The imperial government of Rome, whose hunger for power led to its own collapse.

     

     

    Those who imagine that this is too militant an interpretation of the gospels might consider the Gospel of Matthew, with its charge: “For I was an hungred, and ye gave me mea: I was thirsty and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:”

     

     

    Or they might turn to the messages of Pope Leo XIV, who has carried forward the work of his predecessor Pope Francis, by asserting the importance of the Catholic Church’s “preferential option for the poor.” Leo wrote in his first apostolic exhortation, “God has a special place in his heart for those who are discriminated against and oppressed, and he asks us, his church, to make a decisive and radical choice in favor of the weakest.”

     

     

    The bluntness with which the new pope has challenged the excesses of capitalism has drawn global comment—not all of it favorable. The pope has argued:

     

     

    A concrete commitment to the poor must also be accompanied by a change in mentality that can have an impact at the cultural level. In fact, the illusion of happiness derived from a comfortable life pushes many people towards a vision of life centered on the accumulation of wealth and social success at all costs, even at the expense of others and by taking advantage of unjust social ideals and political-economic systems that favor the strongest. Thus, in a world where the poor are increasingly numerous, we paradoxically see the growth of a wealthy elite, living in a bubble of comfort and luxury, almost in another world compared to ordinary people. This means that a culture still persists—sometimes well disguised—that discards others without even realizing it and tolerates with indifference that millions of people die of hunger or survive in conditions unfit for human beings.

     

     

    In September, Leo issued an exhortation to Christians on love for the poor. The document builds upon the writings of Francis, who died in April 2025 at age 88 and who also decried the excesses of capitalism with references to how “this economy kills.”

     

     

    That is bold language, but it is also an honest assessment, as was Francis’s 2024 notation: “It is often precisely the wealthiest who oppose the realization of social justice or integral ecology out of sheer greed.”

     

     

    In this season of light and charity, we have every reason to hope for the renewal of those instincts that Abraham Lincoln identified as “the better angels of our nature.” To do so, we must recognize the urgency of Pope Francis’s warning that “as long as the problems of the poor are not radically resolved by rejecting the absolute autonomy of markets and financial speculation and by attacking the structural causes of inequality, no solution will be found for the world’s problems or, for that matter, to any problems.” When he repeated this observation shortly before his passing, Francis observed, “I know it bothers [people when I say that], but it is the truth.”

  29. spikeysauldman on

    LR67

     

    a great read…

     

    and a few suggestions for the missus birthday pressies in jan – cheers…

     

     

    peace and goodwill to all (decent) men

     

    and feck every one of the right wing/zionist/neo-cons who walk this earth

  31. glendalystonsils on

    So here it is merry Christmas everybody’s having fun

     

     

    Look to the future Celtic seven Sevco one …..

     

     

    Happy Christmas paul67 and all cqn’rs

  32. Barrach Obampot on

    spikeysauldman

     

     

    Amen to that brother.

     

     

    I hope everyone’s sentiments of goodwill to all men extend to the ballot box.

     

     

    Who Would Jesus Bomb CSC

     

     

    Have a good Christmas everyone

     

     

    HH

  33. Maolmuire O Muirgheasa on

    The merit of a political idea must be assessed independently of its source.

     

     

     

    To accept any other standard is to surrender to tribalist fallacy.

     

     

    ——————————————–

     

    Nollaig Shona daoibh go léir.

  36. voguepunter on

    leftclicktic on 25th December 2025 10:05 am

     

    Merry Christmas all.

     

     

     

     

    Have a great day, especially if you find yourself on your own.HH

     

    ———————-

     

    Nice one Lefty ,the fholk on their own had forgotten about being alone😁🌲💚 have a great day.HH

  42. FAVOURITE UNCLE on

    spikeysauldman on 25th December 2025 11:39 am

     

     

    HAPPY CHRISTMAS SPIKEY. Will you wish DENIS N WILLIE and their families a HAPPY CHRISTMAS from me.

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