LAWWELL’S OFFER TO McKAY

NEW chief executive Dominic McKay has acknowledged the crucial role his predecessor Peter Lawwell still has to play at Celtic.

The former supremo announced he was stepping down from his post in January after 18 successful years in which the club won an incredible TWENTY-NINE trophies, including the phenomenal quadruple treble.

Lawwell, who will officially leave the CEO position on Wednesday, will continue to represent the club at European level.

McKay, who arrived early from Scottish Rugby to hit the ground running in a summer of upheaval, told BBC Scotland: “Peter has been kind enough to say he is on the end of the phone if there are any interesting questions I want to bounce off him.

“He’s achieved so much and, during the whole transition, Peter’s been fantastic to me.

MAKING A POINT…Dominic McKay is ready for the challenges ahead.

“We’ve got two more years on the European Club Association and that’s a really important role for Scotland and for the club, so he will stay engaged with that.”

The Hoops are still without a director of football and McKay, hosting his first press conference at the club, was asked about speculation linking former boss Gordon Strachan with the role.

He answered: “That is not the intention. The plan is to have a look around the structure and, once we decide on the right structure, we’ll look at the right people to populate that.

“I will look across the whole organisation, the football side, the business side and the engagement side to make sure we have the right structure for the next decade.”

McKay calmed the fact that he and new manager Ange Postecoglou were “outsiders” will bring “fresh eyes” to the club that can help pave the way to a new era.

GREEN FOR GO…Ange Postecoglou is “a winner”, according to Dominic McKay.

He remarked: “I think securing Ange is a huge coup – we have a winner in Ange. I am hugely impressed by his plans and philosophy.

“My priority is to settle Ange in and have a productive pre-season and then start to evolve and modernise the club. We want to get back to successful ways, but with a panache and flair.”

The club had been without a permanent manager following the exit of Neil Lennon in February and chairman Ian Bankier admitted it had “taken us a little longer than some would have liked” to find a replacement.

John Kennedy was tasked with team matters for the remaining 10 games of a dire campaign that saw the Hoops complete their first trophyless term in 11 years.

Bankier added: “When you’re hunting for gem stones, patience is a virtue. Ange Postecoglou brings another perspective from a different part of the world and he brings profound experience and a brand of football I think Celtic will love.

“Dom brings a fresh management style, he brings a wider experience of other disciplines – he’s very much connected and understands the modern sporting arena across the world.”