Frank McAvennie has delivered a brutal verdict on Mark Lawwell’s role at Celtic.
Announced as the Head of First Team Scouting and Recruitment in May 2022 the son of the current club Chairman has had four transfer windows to build on the outstanding recruitment of Ange Postecoglou’s first season.
During that time certain positions have been stockpiled such as in central defence where Yuki Kobayashi, Maik Nawrocki and Gus Lagerbielke were signed in 2023, even with Carl Starfelt sold and Cameron Carter-Vickers none of that trio has been able to get close to becoming a regular pick.
Since Jota was sold to Al Ittiad the club has signed Marco Tilio, Luis Palma, Yang Hyun-jun and Nicolas Kuhn, again none of that quartet has been able to deliver anything close to the quality of performances that Postecoglou was getting last season from his wingers.
Summing up recent recruitment, McAvennie told Football Insider:
I don’t think recruitment is Lawwell’s forte. Why would they give him a job doing it? No disrespect, but how can he become the head scout?
Sometimes I think that Celtic just want to keep in front of Rangers, they don’t want to progress.
I would hate to be on the board if they don’t win the league this year.
For me, it would be inexcusable. They were desperate for a left-back and they didn’t do it, the whole of January was a disaster.
Since taking up his Recruitment role Lawwell hasn’t been pictured or interviewed by any Celtic media outlet.
Frank McAvennie the Celtic version in the press of John Brown.
Talking about John Brown is he still alive,the ladt I saw or heard of him was when he had a bottle of Buckie hanging out his jacket pocket shouting for the deeds.
Sadly those that buy the paper rags will see plenty of Brown’s ugly mug in May and all summer…
And this time he won’t be drowning his sorrows, but celebrating his team winning their first ever treble –
Never mind – I’m sure Daddy Lawwell, and therefore inevitably Sonny Lawwell and Lord Lucan-Nicholson can celebrate having their O#d Fuckin F#rm back to the fore from that Love Cup pish pot jerker ceremony they have when they hammer us at Liebrox in April !
We normally – quite correctly – disregard McAvennie’s ramblings as similar to the memorable Viz character ‘The Man In The Pub – Britain’s Most Ill-informed Columnist’….
….but even a broken clock tells the right time twice a day.
That point about ML not giving any interviews to either in-house or external media is highly significant?
A paying punter wouldn’t necessarily expect to see the Head of Recruitment in the media on a
regular basis – but certainly at the start of his job, and perhaps during the summer – and perhaps
when the whole support is asking questions.about the transfer strategy?
ML could be taking some of the heat off BR too… unless Daddy Lawwell forbids him being seen?
It just reinforces the perception – right or wrong – that PL is the unofficial Director of Football – again!I
It also reinforces the belief that ML is unqualified for his role — and doesn’t want to be exposed?
…and what the hell is the transfer strategy going to look lke this summer?
It’ll look like a feckin’ fire-sale because there isn’t a strategy worthy of the name. O’Riley and Abada are certain to be sold off, Callum maybe thinking about a late-career tilt at the EPL or another top 5 league after the way this season has imploded, big Joe on his way, CCV, Hatate, Kyogo and Maeda considering their available options, hopefully a clear out of the abject failures of last summer, but only to make way for another batch of hopeful punts. Can hardly wait…..
McAvennie is right in everything bar one thing…
Celtic won’t to ‘just wanna keep in front of ‘Rangers’ – His words are these and most definitely not mine’ –
Because ‘Rangers’ died in (c.2012) and we must ALWAYS remind them of this ETERNALLY !!!