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Peter Lawwell breaks his spending promise

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During his 17 years as CEO of Celtic Peter Lawwell experienced plenty of failure and criticism.

It wasn’t until the appointment of Brendan Rodgers as manager in 2016 that the club began the current period of domination over Scottish football.

During season 2015/16 two Hampden semi-finals were lost, both to clubs that had never won a domestic cup competition.

In Europe Malmo ended Celtic’s interest in the Champions League qualifiers with the Europa League campaign, played out in front of a closed top tier at Celtic Park failing to achieve a single win, highlighted by defeats home and away to Molde.

The previous season Maribor had ended Celtic’s interest in the Champions League with a 1-0 win at Celtic Park after Ronny Deila’s side drew 1-1 away from home in the first leg.

Everything about Maribor is about 10% of Celtic but they are an ambitious club that tries to punch above their weight. There is no equivalent of heated driveway in Slovenian.

Back then losing a Champions League qualifier would result in the CEO giving a scripted interview to a chosen messenger, it was hollow but more than Michael Nicholson has achieved in four years collecting the CEO salary.

Our commitment as a board has been that every penny that comes into the club will be reinvested back in the club.

And I don’t think that we could be clearer, that is a fact, that’s what we will do and that is our commitment.

I don’t think that you can commit more than everything or give more than everything and that will continue to happen.

How happy are you with Celtic's summer 2025 transfer business?

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Wonderful- great business completed

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Of course the first area that money was reinvested in was executive salaries but generally spending on players was linked to income and turnover. Sometimes things went horrifically wrong, think Amido Balde, Teemu Pukki, Thomas Gravesen, Mo Bangura and dozens more but money was spent on the squad.

Post Lockdown income has steadily risen thanks to automatic qualification for the Champions League and fans spending vast sums on Adidas merchandise.

Season by season the bank balance has swollen, profits result in the payment of Corporation Tax, money going out of the club, money that should have been reinvested.

Lawwell is no longer CEO, as Chairman he attended last week’s Champions League two days after the humiliation from Kiarat Almaty.

His loyal messengers are at pains to emphasise how he has no role in the day to day running of the club.

What they won’t mention is that everyone employed by Celtic has either been appointed by Lawwell or promoted by him- or Nicholson who was appointed by Lawwell.

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Joe McHugh has edited Video Celts since 2010, every day covering events in and around Scotland's most successful club.

When a six year stretch at the Sunday Mirror came to an end it was clear that the future was digital, print had ran its race.

Smart phones and social media created a new landscape, Video Celts has certainly made an impact with Joe described as having an unhealthy obsession by Peter Lawwell at the 2024 Celtic AGM. A priceless endorsement.

There are issues breaking around the clock, no two days are the same. More than 50 years on from his first match Joe is enjoying the ongoing successes of Celtic.

19 comments

  • Bhoy4life says:

    He said into the club, not into the team or the squad.
    Very cute from our Pete.

  • The Joker says:

    Let’s keep reminding the board we got papped out the big guys playground by a bottle of aftershave,Hai Karate style.

  • The Joker says:

    It will be interesting to see if our fans are so gullible to sell out the stadium from now on be that league games or the nickel&dime Europa league,the buggers and tramps league of Europe.
    Playing in that on a Thursday night you can throw in a wee bit of Bulleseye and Jim Bowen here’s what you could have won,playing on Tuesday and Wednesday.

  • Pan says:

    Mr Pete knows he can fool all of the people all of the time.

  • Board Out says:

    ANYWAN that buys tickets fur the EL Hame games is a Fukin MUG! Look at the Current Holders Spurs, lost 20 EPL games last Yr thats 20! Nae Cunts INTERESTED in it bar the SCUM who claim UMPTEEN Triumphs in it DESPITE Failing tae win it Lol! ‘Dortmund Cup’, ‘Lavvy Wata’ Cup & the ‘We shda beat Spurs last Yr & if we did we’d have won it’ Cup! BAWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

    • Paul Mac aka Irishmaninporto says:

      Agree in part especially the sack the useless board… BUT … This is the same competition that we played the final in Seville … Does that not mean anything anymore? Also IF we were to go one better and win the feckin thing … It would give us AUTOMATIC entry into next seasons Champions League … If we won the league this season we would only get into the qualifiers…

  • Charlie Green says:

    I never dreamt for a minute they would come up with nothing at the close of the window and you have to admire the cajones on of Lawwell.

    I would still would love to see a GB tifo with DD, Lawwell and Nicholson wearing Sevco scarves.

  • TicToc says:

    Ach that’s it for me, enough.

    We’ve got rogues on the plc board answering to ONE shareholder, we’ve got a team and a manager who dished up utter garbage vs Almaty twice and the new huns most recently in 3 top priority fixtures.

    We’ve got blogs that complain a lot and actually do nothing. We’ve got the Celtic Trust which has been run with all the gusto of what used to be known as Auld Mens’ Huts in Public Parks. Then there’s the final straw, the majority of supporters who’re prepared to lap it all up and do nothing to stand up for the club they SAY they love.

    Aye, you heard it here first, ‘Rebels’ Withoot The Bawz!

    Goodbye!

  • Stewart says:

    Bad v, v, v bad window,, looking at goals scored up until they left,,, kyogo,,, kuhn,,, idah,,, was in mid 30s between them,,, where are these goal going to come from,,,why would a club alow itself to implode in such away very perocial out look,,,

  • Mick Healy says:

    We all know heads need to roll at the top for this shambles but we all also realise that’s never going to happen if you are waiting on that happening you’ll be more disapointed than when the window shut. One of the reasons being that according to the men at the top MN is doing a great job as our net spend this window was approx +20 million, funnily enough around the same drop off in income from missing out on champions league, now that can’t be a coincidence. Keeping profit margins the same will be a big part of his remit and hes definitely not failing in that department so surely according to the suits he will doing a grand job???

  • The Joker says:

    As I said previously we ain’t winning this league that’s fir sure,and I’m beginning to sound like a broken down record Ted won’t be here by the end of September and we won’t bectop ofvthe league.
    A team below us in the league will dish out a right good SCUDDING to us like sevco got from Brugge.

  • The Joker says:

    Get yiur teeth into this,Ted away just now not being announced until tomorrow after AGM,Malloney and Kennedy to take charge of first team matters.

    I told you all last week he was Joe The Toff.

    • Bhoy4life says:

      If ur right, and Maloney steps into his shoes, then his appt has been made with the intention of this happening, the pre meditation is obvious.
      I’m completely disillusioned by what’s going on at the moment but if Maloney does take charge, that for me would be disgusting.
      And another point, just exactly what has Maloney achieved in management?
      The whole thinks stinks like a poachers pocket.
      Get these fucking charlatans out of our club.

  • Stevie says:

    And to top it off Aberdeen sign a Scottish international proven goalscorer who knows the league for fckn £300,000. ..????

  • Bob (original) says:

    The DR mis-reporting, as per headline:

    “Michael Nicholson and Celtic board to break silence in rare public address after summer transfer shambles”

    No.
    As a plc, the club is obligated to give an updated financial report/forecast to the financial market along with its interim numbers.
    An annual reporting requirement: happens every year.
    Nothing to do with transfers.

    In saying that,
    there is absolutely nothing stopping MN or PL giving an update to the fans
    about the recent transfer [in] activity – today or tomorrow.

    Won’t hold my breathe for that though… 🙁

  • Harold Shand says:

    Bamford now

    Strategy what a f*cking joke

    It’s this ..

    You wanted a striker , here’s one , nobody else wants him but he’s free , he’s a striker and that what’s you wanted , so here you go

  • Con says:

    Consider yourself taken in
    Consider yourself part of the expenditure
    There isn’t a lot to spare
    Who cares?

    In this life, one thing counts
    In our bank, large amounts
    We’ve got to pick a pocket or two
    We’ve got to pick a pocket or two, bhoys!
    We’ve got to make a packet of you!

Comments are closed.