Peter Lawwell faces a massively testing time over the coming months as fingers are pointed in his direction for Celtic’s Champions League exit.
Whether he likes it or not that is the way of the business. After 15 years in the job he is the suit, the bean counter, the man with his finger on the pulse with control and knowledge of every area of the club earning him his seven figure salary.
Just over two years ago the whole club appeared to be in free-fall. Fans had given up on Ronny Deila who was acknowledged as a likeable guy trying his best but badly out of his depth.
Lawwell was blamed for that appointment and his failings as a manager.
Message to the Celtic board: This is what happens when you don’t strengthen the team. You strengthen BEFORE the qualifiers to ensure you get into the CL. You don’t wait to see if you get there and then think, let’s strengthen. So disappointed by your negligence right now!
— The Huddle ???? (@letsdothehuddle) August 14, 2018
Reality is we shouldnt even have Brendan Rodgers. could never attract a manager of that quality if it wasnt for his celtic roots. When u have someone like him u bend over backwards to keep him happy u dnt hang him out to dry. Lawwell needs to come out publicy & answer to this.
— Swifty (@swiftybhoy) August 14, 2018
Celtic’s then model would never have permitted a high profile and highly remunerated manager to take charge with the focus being on taking charge.
The arrival of Brendan Rodgers worked wonders. Fans queued up for season tickets, corporate deals were quickly snapped up and suddenly running the club looked pretty straightforward.
Six domestic trophies and two seasons in the group phase of the Champions League raised expectations but with an understanding of where the club stands.
Expectation to live up to Champions League seedings by reaching the group phase, at that point to put up a decent showing and be capable of the shocks that Gordon Strachan and Neil Lennon pulled off.
That required sensible investment and everyone at the club working in unison.
The comments from the manager over the last fortnight clearly contradict that master plan.
Signing Odsonne Edouard was a message of support and intent from the board to the manager.
Banking the money from Stuart Armstrong and Virgil van Dijk left the manager exposed, he didn’t deserve that. His judgement and transfer requests should have been granted, he knows the budget and market place.
Rodgers has made mistakes, Marvin Compper and Jack Hendry aren’t close to being ready for the Champions League but the offers coming in for Dedryck Boyata and Armstrong easily out balance those judgements.
The manager has had his say, now it’s upto Lawwell and his colleagues to arm Rodgers with the funds to back his own judgement.
It’s too late for this season but if Boyata is sold and an extra five million is chucked into the defence the spotlight will be on the manager and not the board to come up with the goods.
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