Keith Jackson has painted a bleak portrait of Peter Lawwell as a man alone hoping against hope that Neil Lennon can pull off a Houdini act on Celtic’s season.
The Daily Record reporter may not be the favourited reporter of Celtic fans but he did win the confidence of a source close to Dermot Desmond less than a fortnight ago who forecast that Neil Lennon would remain in charge despite the back-to-back defeats from Sparta Prague and Ross County.
Later that day Lawwell issued a rallying cry to the support but since he clicked PUBLISH the run of misery has been extended from two wins in 10 to two wins in 12 with no sign of improvement or a softening among fans of the need for change.
That demand for change now has two focusses- the dug-out and the boardroom where the Lawwell-Desmond double act has been in near perfect harmony for almost two decades.
Having recently gained the trust of a source close to Desmond it looks very much like Lawwell is on his own with his backing for the man he appointed on a permanent basis in May 2019.
Jackson tells Record readers:
If Lennon goes down in flames then Lawwell’s credibility too will be burned beyond all recognition.
He may have overseen this entire decade of dominance and plotted Celtic’s path with immaculate planning but he will not be forgiven should this last big gamble fail to deliver. And that’s exactly what it is. A desperate punt which, should it not pay out, will be lampooned as an act borne of sheer delusion.
No, Lawwell wouldn’t be lumping it all on red right now if he felt he had the option of a safer bet.
That he is left to cross his fingers and toes while praying for a better version of plan A is evidence he too has lost control of this 10 In A Row juggernaut at the worst moment. He can do no more now than pull that face mask up over his eyes and hope for the best.
If Lennon and 10-in-a-row is added to Lawwell’s rap sheet that includes Deila, Mowbray, Maribor, Malmo and various other mid-ranking European sides it won’t make for pretty viewing on his CV although his bank balance will provide ample consolation.
Jackson’s article hints that Gordon Strachan and Martin O’Neill weren’t interested in a short-term rescue act which leaves Lawwell alone in the bunker alongside Lennon.
If one goes down things look very bleak for the other guy.