Inexcusable, the whole of January was a disaster- McAvennie calls out Lawwell

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.