Mark Lawwell, Head of First Team Scouting and Recruitment, and Joe Dudgeon, Lead First Team Scout, both resigned yesterday to “pursue other opportunities”. Mark joined from City Football Group (CFG) in May 2022, Joe followed from the same source six months later.
While at CFG, Lawwell was Head of Scouting and Recruitment, responsible for Manchester City, Girona, Ange Postecoglou’s Yokohama and others. The pair worked together for three years at CFG, where Ange bought into Mark’s recruitment and development pathway. Mark then recommended Ange to Celtic.
After his successful first season at Celtic, Ange brought Mark up from Manchester to head Celtic’s recruitment. Plans were cut short when Ange left for Tottenham before the pair set to work in the summer of 2023.
It was clear to many that Brendan Rodgers recruitment methodology was different from Ange’s, while Mark Lawwell’s also differed from Lee Congerton’s, who headed recruitment during Brendan’s first term at Celtic. Lee had worked with Brendan early in their backroom careers at Chelsea and followed him to Leicester in 2019.
Both Lawwell and Congerton suffered some reputational damage among the support during their times at Celtic, although Head of Recruitment is only one piece of the jigsaw. Congerton’s reputation in the game got him the top recruitment job at Atalanta in 2022.
After the work he did at CFG and his transformational time at Celtic through Postecoglou, Mark Lawwell also has significant standing in the game. He will end up back in the English Premier League, where there is a bit of flux at the top end.
City and Chelsea are prodigious hoarders of talent, although he may prefer not to return to City and not be further contaminated by Chelsea. Postecoglou moved for him before and could take him to Spurs. I would keep an eye on Manchester United as a possible destination. Their new controlling shareholder is known to respect the work of CFG and will make changes to the football and recruitment operation.
Liverpool are probably too focused on replacing Klopp than making any further senior changes. There are lots of clubs keen to move up the food chain further down the EPL, who may also move for him. Bookmark me if you think any other scenario is likely. What happens next will be a measure of what walked out the door yesterday.
The January transfer window was described as “disappointing” by Mark’s father, chairman, Peter Lawwell, showing his aptitude for understatement. The manager and recruitment department need to work to the same methodology or we end up with £67m in the bank and spending very little. The frustration would have been palpable.
I think everyone had the best intentions when Brendan joined in the summer and committed to work with the existing recruitment system. The manager must always have the final decision in transfers, but if we do not sign who the recruitment department wants us to sign, those at the top will soon move on.
I doubt we will be able to get Lee Congerton back. Whether you want someone like Lee in to work with Brendan they way they did until 2019 doesn’t matter, it is important that we get someone who operates like that. The manager needs a Head of Recruitment who works the way he does, not the way CFG do. It may not be to your taste, but it’s surely better than rejecting everyone. So nothing to worry about.
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Aha,ha,ha,ha ,ha,ha get a load of Shorties report from Mordor :
First they say, “Impressive Motherwell secured their first victory at Ibrox in nine years to end Scottish Premiership leaders Rangers’ 11-game winning run”.
Am I correct in thinking this refers to the time Motherwell beat Sevco in a promotion/relegation decider?😂😂
Then they go on to say later: “Few would have predicted this Motherwell victory – their first in the top flight proper in 38 visits to Ibrox since May 1997”.
Seemingly for Shortie, Motherwell’s victory 9 years ago wasn’t “proper” because Sevco were “down the divisions” (Shortie-speak for liquidation).
TT
Its just time for new blood, thats all
What got us there in the past won’t get us there in the future
A changing of the guard
New energy and new solutions to the same problems
And if we look at Peter’s guardianship, whilst we may not agree with his methods………
And I am one of the above who may not agree
Am not sure we would have had the success we have had without him being there
The last time we had such a change (if peter goes) was Wee Fergus
I look forward to the future
No matter the success we have had in the past? (and the dip we face now?)
If we make the right changes, we will surely move forward in leaps and bounds again
CLUNKS on 2ND MARCH 2024 7:38 PM
TT its just time for new blood, that’s all what got us there in the past won’t get us there in the future a changing of the guard new energy and new solutions to the same problems and if we look at Peter’s guardianship, whilst we may not agree with his methods………and I am one of the above who may not agree am not sure we would have had the success we have had without him being there
*Fully concur here with all of it and can also say when Jock left I was glad as I felt his time in club football was over and I put that down more to his mva than losing his touch but the constant sniping on here is only aiding and abetting the huns that only appear when we are having a bit of a struggle and are noticeably absent the night….wonder why
clunks on 2nd March 2024 7:08 pm
Jesus wept.
You were moderating on here.
It’s all becoming a little bit clearer now.
Name the Huns TT.
Either that or find a new tune, it’s becoming tiresome.
Seize the day tomorrow Celtic 🍀
TT or maybe some posters have other things going on in their lives.
So let me get this straight, PL deserves our thoughts and care as his house was burnt.
But CQN posters that are absent do not deserve our thoughts even though they might have family’s, spending time with their other half etc. In fact posters call them hunterlopers, huns yadda yadda yadda.
TT you are better than that.
D. :)
Celtic have opened talks about extending the contract of Daniel Kelly.
The teenager made his SPFL debut in midweek, replacing Callum McGregor at the break then taking less than 20 minutes to find the net with a composed shot into the postage stamp corner.
Kelly has just 10 months left to run on his contract, worryingly he is able to sign a pre-season contract in July with clubs in England and Germany reported to be interested.
From Video Celts.
TT
Some of them are still here….
Totally unexpected today, get the 3 points tomorrow Bhoys
CLUNKS
From the angle i saw i think it was the second well man that caught him.
TIMHORTON
If we get it, we are laughing
if it goes against us we are raging
If it happens on the halfway line?
This conversation never happened
Gray areas indeed
Which is where the huns live and breath
G FEARON on 2ND MARCH 2024 8:14 PM
Name the Huns TT. either that or find a new tune, it’s becoming tiresome.
*first of all I m NOT a clipe and never have been and its obvious even if you only have half a brain who they are and furthermore away you up tae the local pharmacist, buy some durex and go and fornicate with yourself as no one is as more tiresome as you daft see you next thursday.
Dan Casey
Our new hero,from Dublin of course
https://x.com/MotherwellFC/status/1712483279646199868?s=20
Tontine Tim
Ignore the Ally McCoists on here looking for “names” the blog fluctuates at times …
Many post far more when in despair
Am delighted we have this place …
As Brendan says “write (post) our own story”
Ignore the McCoists :-)
If they canny make their own mind up who is genuine and who aren’t
3pts tomorrow … still 100% behind our manager
Mighty Gers remain unbeaten in February
Well Well Well
Chance tomorrow to go back to the top of the SPL
(And they’re no)
Not only only that but sit up there for a couple of weeks at least.
We have played away five times this year, four wins and a draw.
To win at ol Tynecastle though….
Sweeter than Tupelo Honey
I watched most of the Motherwell game today, much to my satisfaction. I generally tune into Sevco games until they score, then tune out. One thing I have noticed is that Clement stands at the shoulder of the 4th Official and repeatedly engages in conversation with him; usually to dispute a decision. Although this is bad enough, he is, in actual fact, talking to the referee, as both officials are in contact. This means that anything said to the 4th official will be picked up by his mic and relayed to the ref. Apart from anything else, a manager prattling in the ref”s ear piece is bound to be a distraction, even though skullduggery is not at play.
Up in the Lock,
Group setting up.
My wife observes , wow a girl drummer. I say no an adult female is a woman. A woman drummer .
She says ” Fu@k off ya f@ cking ballbag.
She is right and she has just pointed out that she has a girls night out next week.
HH. In BR we trust.
Pathetic article by a bitter Paul67.
A hun would be proud of that.
Idah will have a field day at the back post of the huns goal
Both Taylor and AJ have had joy putting crosses into that area
Goldson and Souttar are stuggling this year and their last 2 games have shown this
Get thru tomorrow and watch their season implode
Agree Clunks, Goldson was horrific today. Also diving at the slightest touch to have Motherwell players booked.
At well 2nd goal Tavernier was 100% responsible due to giving his man a free header by standing 2 yards away from him.
They were muck today.
Do the biz Celtic !!!
greenpinata
Ye’s ever watched ‘The Little Drummer Girl’?
Brilliant piece of television based on Le Carre
Still on BBCi Player
CELTIC MAC on 2ND MARCH 2024 9:03 PM
greenpinata Ye’s ever watched ‘The Little Drummer Girl’? Brilliant piece of television based on Le Carre
*brilliant book tae as are all his but they do take a lot of gettin intae like the “news a ten from itn” commentator Gerald Seymour
The cup break is only a good thing if we collect 3pts tomorrow …
10 games to go in Spl … CCV back, Kyogo due to start hitting the back of the net .. and maybe Hatate back in a few weeks …
The league is only ever won at the end of the season .. this title could actually be the sweetest of many before it
WITS,
Thought you had an aversion to Bohs,
Dan played with Bohs had a year with Cork City then went back to Bohs.
LUCKY CODY
The second goal came about as the huns were not able to win the second ball
2 weak headers from souttar and their forwards were not pressuring the ball quick enough
motherwell recycled the ball fast
And stretched the defence with a runner from the left
We can take advantage of that
Watch the replay of the 2nd goal…..
tontine tim
The aul Spy would be getting it large from BBC Scotland for coming up wi that title.
Just finished reading ‘The Spy Who Came in From The Cold’ – Brilliant
Evening all.
Just catching up with the blog.
Sean Thornton.
May your brother Mick, Rest In Peace.
PHILBHOY
I hope you are keeping well.
I visit to Bo’ness / Linlithgow sounds good to me.
MAJESTIC HARTSON
I’m not keen on the company you have kept recently. :)
It’s a downward spiral, I know from personal experience.
Wait until DAVID66 joins the gathering, it gets worse. :)
If he shows you pictures of his wife, avert your eyes. :)
HH
Brian.
Thomson and McCann on BBC Sportscene tonight with nearly a Million pounds of ebt between them……..
At the levels of tax these guys pay thats £300-400,000 in tac not collected
Goodnight all.
Thanks for being here.
Clunks 9.18pm
The Huns EBTs are still live …
The first repayment is something like 125yrs after they were issued :-)
Don’t forget NI they didn’t pay that either on the EBT money
Hence … evasion not avoidance :-)
Steven Thompson, £485,000:
Neil McCann, £500,000:
The ebts in tax not collected on the sportscene couch this evening
Source: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-big-tax-case-who-6767682
The ebts were proven to be illegal as they were on side contracts issued
Therefore tax could not be collected
An ebt was supposed to be a loan repayed and used for directors etc
The ebt’s the huns players and management got were tax free payments, never meant to be repayed
Thats why they went bust
$985,000 of unclaimed tax sitting on sportscenes couch tonight
A programme from the BBC that we pay for thru our TV license
They cheated