Identikit of David Murray- former Sky pundit delivers brutal Lawwell comparison

Charlie Nicholas has joined Andy Walker and Chris Sutton in delivering stinging attacks on Peter Lawwell.

Over 17 years the CEO has built up almost complete control of the club on the inside but it isn’t difficult to find critics in the ranks of former players turned pundits.

Nicholas and Walker are unlikely to win any popularity contests among Celtic fans but as they look in on what could have been a historic season unravel completely it is hard to disagree with the views of the former strikers.

If 2020 is remembered for losing four consecutive home matches and crashing out of three cup competitions before the end of November, after less than a fortnight, 2021 is threatening to become an even bigger disaster.

The trip to Dubai has become such a fiasco it has almost overshadowed a Derby defeat at Ibrox and a plus 20 points gap at the top of the SPFL Premiership.

Nicholas has never been slow to slam Lawwell with Glasgow Live picking up on a spectacular attack in his Daily Express column:

If any other chief executive was getting the sort of wages Peter Lawwell is getting paid and was in charge when a company made such a PR gaffe as this, they’d be hounded out the door by shareholders. Celtic have endured a lot of pain over the last two months in the title race but now the club looks broken. They have sold their humility and understanding of the people.

That has all gone because the board has become carried away by their own egos. I have never seen so many Celtic supporters look so angry. The whole fabric of the club has been damaged because people thought they were untouchable. Lawwell has been ruthless with staff in the past. People I know who worked their fingers to the bone for the club have gone. That is one reason why I have been so against the ownership.

If Lawwell was prepared to get rid of foot soldiers then he is culpable for what has happened in Dubai. The leadership and hierarchy of the club are responsible and should have pulled the plug on it. Lawwell is known as the voice of the club and is quick to speak when things are going well.

It always concerned me Lawwell was becoming an identikit of Sir David Murray, and Desmond has left him to call most of the shots. I am not sure Desmond has any significant interest in Celtic now. I think his family might and the reins will be passed on. This club is crumbling and will take a lot of rebuilding.

After 23 years in charge of Rangers Murray sold the club to Craig Whyte for £1 in May 2011, in June 2012 the club went into liquidation.

John Kennedy and Gavin Strachan have faced the media to defend the Dubai trip but so far Lawwell has remained silent with Neil Lennon only dealing with in-house club media.