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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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  1. jackiemac on

    we’re fubar when calmac goes – imagine getting a tounekti, yang or engels in to fill that pivotal position- our midfield will vanish when he goes.

  2. lets all do the huddle on

    yip,

     

     

    some players just cant be replaced and when they leave its a total disaster.

     

     

    i remember the same comments about Henrik.

     

     

    and they were true.

     

     

    we havent won a single trophy since he left.

  3. lets all do the huddle on

    though we did sign a guy called Pedro Lawello, he won us hunners of 🏆🏆🏆.

     

     

    think he played right wing.

  8. lets all do the huddle on

    Minnesota Vikings Quick News will be in uproar just now about how many of their fans have left the stadium early when they are winning easily

  9. clunks on

    Viking Stivs be on here raging about the empty seats!!!!

     

     

    Those Minnesota buses be leaving early or roadworks or just poor spectators be the cause….

  11. lets all do the huddle on

    Viking Stivs be on here raging about the empty seats!!!!

     

    —

     

     

    😄

     

     

    hopefully Stivs only done his counting in the first 3 quarters. no empty seats!

     

     

    but once it got announced that the last train from dalmarnock to minneapolis central was about to leave, everyone left. thousands of empty seats.

  15. lets all do the huddle on

    We wont know the truth till VIking Stivs arrives

     

     

    It could be anything 😂😂😂😂

     

    —

     

     

    hopefully the Viking Stivs got a new abacus for christmas, should get an accurate count!

  18. lets all do the huddle on

    fk me.

     

     

    the trump nutter has been bombing in nigeria tonight.

     

     

    thats a new one even for them.

     

     

    its just perpetual wars for them.

     

     

    yet their people, and taxpayers, put up with it.

     

     

    a screwball country from top to bottom.

     

     

    and folk want to go there for the world cup.

  20. lionroars67 on

    SPFL Season 25-26 will go down as a season when seismic change occurred within Scottish football, out of the starting gates quickly have been Hearts fronting the Tony Bloom data analytics revolution, so far so good Hearts sit top of the league at the turn of the year having beaten comprehensively (Home and Away) both sides of the Glasgow divide, it has been a painless transition for Hearts, Club, Players, Fans all embracing the change, Hearts will strengthen in January window at this point it certainly looks like SPFL title is heading to Tyne castle

     

     

    Desmond and Executives have selected seismic change at Celtic, so far it has been very painful causing deep divisions fans deeply un happy at being ignored and treated as nothing more than mere customers indifference and comms is at the root of division, communications from the club are dire, lacking detail and personality, Wilfreid Nancy is left like his predecessor to front on behalf of the club at Pressers and given he is French and has no previous history with the club to be left to explain in detail his process and plan for radical transformative change within the clubs football dept, Implementing change for Wilfreid so far has been problematic to say the least (Recent results not good) plus not withstanding having to cope with an anti Celtic establishment media by his employers is beyond cowardly. it is not scaremongering to say by the end of January the managerial recruitment revolving door at Lennoxtown (Events dear boy, Events) could be ushering in a new management team(4th this season), although not the project to change the football dept

     

    The Dermot Desmond era of O’Neil, Strachan and Rodgers has produced the GOD of Scottish football, being able to obtain elite level football management over one phone call then send the private plane to collect is for billionaires, sadly remaining aloof and distant from the club and its fanbase was also a negative trait with Celtics billionaire de facto owner, I don’t believe we will see any quick change in the domination of the share ownership by Dermot, Lindsell Train and other institutions, however with Dermot passing on football recruitment to a DOF and executives indeed Dermot has IMO approved of the new direction for the football dept, he wants distance, his son Ross is not qualified to be the next big dog, Dermot will still have a say and clearly these football appointments will be driven by results, However the days of the large NED board grandees are over, not required, continuing turbulence may result in an unsuccessful year at Celtic with the continuing painful process of transition, as an attendee at Celtic park i wish Wilfreid Bonne chance, he will need it, big transfer window soon, I suspect it may will be about who departs rather than who comes in which will determine success on the pitch in the short term, the time of big money buys is also over IMO

     

     

    Our newest rivals over in Govan have went through numerous changes in ownership and football management since 2012, businessman with no monetary sense throwing ridiculous sums of money at this new club just to beat Celtic leaving the new club with enormous levels of debt, madness through bigotry, what fools, what Larks indeed. Has a corner been turned in 2025 by the the new consortium owners, led by Andrew Cavenagh (healthcare tycoon) chairman and Vice Chairman Paraag Marathe ( 49ers enterprises), the football dept got of to a dreadful start with poor recruitment of executives and football manager, however that has been quickly changed with new executives and an interesting appointment in new young German sausage roll as manager, recent results have improved, with inbuilt advantages as the establishment club within the SFA that may come still with a late challenge for the title

     

     

    AI Overview

     

    “May you live in interesting times” is a widely cited, ironic expression often framed as an “ancient Chinese curse,” though it is actually of Western, likely British, origin from the late 19th/early 20th century. It signifies a desire (or curse) for turbulent, chaotic, or precarious times rather than peaceful ones.

  21. Gene on

    Happy St Stephen’s day

     

     

    Good Morning from a clear and frosty North Staffs. Hope everyone had a great day yesterday- we certaunly did.

     

    Unfortunately I need to report that my children completely ignored the boycott and there was plenty of Celtic merchandise on view when presents were open.

  23. lionroars67 on

    FIFA awarded Trump a peace prize

     

     

    War with Venezuela, war in Africa, war in Middle East

     

     

    ‪@middleeasteye-rss.bsky.social‬

     

    Israeli warplanes carry out intense strikes in Khan Younis, continue shelling Gaza https://bsky.app/profile/middleeasteye-rss.bsky.social/post/3mauu6zyr3c2q

     

     

    The Independent‬@the-independent.com‬

     

     

    Video: Trump launches deadly US strike against Isis in Nigeria

     

    https://bsky.app/profile/the-independent.com/post/3mauu5taowq24

     

     

    Madness from the USA

  27. Chairbhoy on

    Good Morning Fholk – Grand Day To Be A Tim…

     

     

    Interesting lead on Peter Lawwell.

     

     

    My thoughts are, he’ll be a controversial figure in the Celtic annals – yet there is plenty that his family and friends can point and be proud of his record.

     

     

    All the best to him and his family.

     

     

    Hail Hail

  29. Chairbhoy on

    Lionroars67 @ 8:01 am, 8:23 am,

     

     

    Excellent overview – we certainly do live in interesting Celtic times.

     

     

    Hearts already out of the starting blocks, hoping to sign Dutch full-back – Jordi Altena.

     

     

    Great presser by Brendan at his new club, really trying to communicate in a measured fashion to the clubs fanbase.

     

     

    Interesting assessment of his teams first opponents – the way he often talken about a Derek McInnes side or a Stephen Robertson side or whomever…

     

     

    Be interesting to see how the team end the season.

     

     

    Hail Hail

  30. Maestro on

    Mitov as a back up and to compete with Sinisalo for the #1 positions.

     

     

    Alex Gogic to add steel and can play defence or midfielder.

     

     

     

    Kieran Bowie

     

     

     

    Big sting athletic striker and would develop and score plenty for us.

     

     

     

    All for the price of one of Titsdlaes flops.

  31. spikeysauldman on

    Kieran Bowie has been pretty pish since he early season euro exploits imo

     

     

    Alex Gogic – is that our ambition ?

     

     

    Mitov looks good – but we have Sinisalo and Doohan – would prefer to concentrate on other areas

     

     

    Trump – going on about Islamic State on a day when a suicide bomber bombs a mosque

     

     

    USA – The most despicable country on the planet when it comes to foreign policy – democrats no better

  33. lionroars67 on

    CHAIRBHOY on 26TH DECEMBER 2025 9:30 AM

     

     

    The quickness with which Brendan has assessed the players, of course him and JK would have done due diligence on the playing staff before arrival, decades of experience can save time and pain, as does incremental change over time, as you say it will be interesting to see if they can upset the top clubs, for a time his Leicester certainly did

  34. lionroars67 on

    SPIKEYSAULDMAN on 26TH DECEMBER 2025 9:50 AM

     

     

    USA – The most despicable country on the planet when it comes to foreign policy – democrats no better

     

     

    Absolutely Spikey

     

     

    FIFA Infantino USA Trump an unholy alliance………….Trump USA apocalyptic war mongering madman

  35. Back to Basics - Glass Half Full on

    Good morning CQN

     

     

    Happy Boxing Day to all here.

     

     

    Boxing Day is named after the late 17th century tradition of families emerging after Christmas Day and arranging boxing bouts in the street to entertain the community.

     

     

    Like many statements of fact on the interweb … the above is just made up.

     

     

    But if you deliver your fibs or baseless conjecture with enough conviction and authority? …

  37. lionroars67 on

    Happy St Stephens day

     

     

    The art of saying nothing, and if you say it with confidence and conviction you can delude yourself your actually saying meaningful nothingness

     

     

    Its a blog which relies on contributions for income

     

     

    Go on be brave post your opinions what’s the worst that can happen

     

     

    Better to live like a lion for a day rather than a sheep

  41. FAVOURITE UNCLE on

    the Bada Bing on 26th December 2025 11:14 am

     

     

    There are KEEPERS out there who have scored more goals.

  42. timmy7_noted on

    Peter’s parting gift. If we can get him for 500k.

     

    Otherwise as we all know the January window, for Celtic, is even more problematic than the summer one.

     

    Maybe we’ll get him on loan on 2nd Feb.

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