Peter Lawwell injected a rare moment of humour into Celtic’s AGM this morning by comparing Sevco to Rory Bremner impersonating Tony Blair.
Among resolutions about the re-election of directors and debate about the club paying a living wage to employees most attention was focussed on the red carpet treatment that the SFA have given to Sevco since they replaced Rangers after the Ibrix club went into liquidation.
While the footballing establishment in Scotland avoid using the ‘l’ word in favour of financial meltdown, administration and crisis, supporters across Scotland know the reality of how the SFA have favoured the Ibrox clubs at every opportunity while attempting to give the current club the same identity as the one in liquidation.
“Rory Bremner can pretend to be Tony Blair,” Lawwell joked to the amusement of shareholders gathered at Celtic Park.
Despite the ongoing shambles at Ibrox and attempts to draw Celtic into an ‘Old Firm war of words’ Lawwell has kept a distance as the debate rages between Sevco 5088, Sevco Scotland, the SFA and The Rangers International Football Club.
Two years ago the Celtic chief claimed to have received a £30m bid from an unknown club in an unknown universe following claims made by Whyte that Rangers had turned down a £10m for Nikita Jelavic who was sold to Everton four months later for £3.5m.
Lawwell was speaking today during a Question & Answers section after it was announced that the controversial issue of questioning the SFA over granting Rangers a licence for the 2011/12 season was adjourned.
That motion questioned why a licence was granted to a club with unpaid tax bills which allowed Ally McCoist to lead the club into Champions League qualifiers against Malmo with £6m from the so-called ‘wee tax case’ unpaid.
If the SFA had applied the laws and refused a licence Celtic would have represented Scotland in the Champions League qualifiers allowing the club the opportunity to pick up a £20m windfall as they did in the following two seasons.
Had the SFA refused a licence the crisis at Ibrox would have come to a head much earlier allowing fans of the club to apply pressure on Craig Whyte and preventing the club from completing two thirds of the season without paying National Insurance and PAYE.
The motion to discuss that issue was adjourned due to ongoing talks between the club and the group of supporters that made the proposal.
Tony Blair is a disgusting creature so the analogy fits! Bit of an insult to Rory Bremner though lol!
i hope the joking does not deflect the real issue as to why the sfa allowed sevco5088 to play in the CL.. they sevco5088 should be booted out of europe for breaking tax rules.. keep the pressure on guys ..
Is the fear that because it was the national organization doing it that the country as a whole will be booted out?
Is there any truth in the rumour that next seasons strip will have a yellow streak on it?
I know posters on here don’t like to pollute the site by giving cyberspace to the Sevconians ( I get that, I really do ), but I couldn’t help lurking to see how they’re foaming at the mouth re Lawell’s aside. Even funnier, was seeing the limited edition ‘New Pioneers’ print of Fat Sally, big Jig, Lee Wallace and NEIL ALEXANDER for £100 & £5.95 p&p. It makes the old Ibrox Stadium models we used to see in the Sunday Post look like hidden treasures! H×2
Somethings will never change and I know in my lifetime the SFA and Rangers will walk hand in hand till the last breath has been taken, again and again.
The pithy put down aside, the board flat out denied providing the staff with a basic living weekly wage. Which is what this site and every other should be highlighting instead of this
Its in our DNA remember, or at least that’s what the board like to keep telling us
Pj, respect to you and I echo your views 100 % re the minimum wage. However, I knew sooner or later, the Zombies would be up in arms about a throwaway line ( for legal purposes..nudge nudge wink wink! ) Now, they are demanding the head of Lawell, for ‘hinting’ at the truth! Believe me,I want a stronger Board..well, a backbone would be a start! In the meantime, I’ll set my alarm clock for the Defamation Case against PL from Sevco 5088! H×2
spot on mb.
i like the analogy,as they are a joke new club.Also if they are so upset,it means it has hit a raw nerve,in other words it.is the truth.
just heard jim spence on radio(only journalist with any integrity) say it was a bit of humour.watch the tabloids make a field day of it,tomorrow.
peter lawwell’s tenure,ten years at the club,has been exceptional.he is also a proud tim.
Celtic is a club of the fans,for the fans.the living wage should have been adopted,to.reflect rhis.
finally,i feel peter lawwell should resign from the sfa,due to SEVCOGATE.
will reagan ‘challenge’ the licence ?
answers on a postcard to craigy ‘LEGEND’ whyte.
does anybody else agree that Peter should get the hell out of their ?
Master stroke by peter today…
UEFA sfa … Challenge him …. I dare you
Haha your got to be kidding me preferential treatment from sfa what planet have you lot be on, when rangers were down everyone was keeping them dowm and now it seems the media and celtic still cant moaning about rangers. Juat rememeber rangers are still rangers and are 141years old. Its always good when celtic football and athletic club try have a go at us. Peter lawell is a joke and should not be on sfa board but thats what happens when your mates with chief executive of the sfa. Sfa board is a farse.
ANDREW IS A ZOMBIE- GO EASY ON HIM
Well said Mr Lawwell you really hit a raw nerve with your little comment and the truth always hurts. And I agree that the S F A have let newco run Scottish football and as said before in these comments they dont seem to want too do anything about it but NOW is the time to take them too task over the lies they have told to register newco with the S F A the same way Green “screwed” White to get newco. One hundred and forty one year history dont make us laugh any more . John Cleese could not write a comedy like this . TIC TOCK TIC TOCK.!!!!
Goodbye newco or is it ?Whoever you call yourselves it goodbye FOREVER!!
U guys r zombies aswell then since 1994, when you amazingly changed your name. Lawwell is meant to b on professional games board and comes out with comment like that, Who remembers lawwell comment celtic don’t need rangers well doesnt it seem they do if we play in different league and we still get mentioned. Ur chair man is a joke aswell.
You poor soul Andrew, you have my sympathy. Imagine coming unarmed to an intellectual debate. Andymac.