Celtic Chief Peter Lawwell is doing himself no favours with bland press statement

By Euan Davidson

December 1, 2020

Celtic Chief Executive Peter Lawwell has released a statement expressing the need for unity between the fans and the club.

Lawwell’s rallying cry (of sorts) asked for fans to move together with the club through its worst form since 1958:

“Later this month, Celtic will attempt what no other club in the world has achieved – a quadruple treble in domestic competitions.

We can best prepare for that and for our other remaining competitions this season by moving forward together, with the sole aim of achieving continued success for the Club.”

Calling for “strength in adversity”, Lawwell gave headline writers everywhere a gift by claiming:

“Like all those with Celtic’s best interests at heart, everyone at the Club is feeling the same hurt, disappointment and frustration following the team’s recent results. We are accustomed to winning and, of course, our objective will always be for that to continue. There is no complacency whatsoever.”

Celtic Park / (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“No complacency whatsoever”

Well. Good grief.

Celtic fans had been clamouring for Lawwell to make a real statement about the future of the club. After Sunday’s dismal defeat to an under-strength Ross County in the Betfred Cup, fans expected Lawwell to intervene.

Calls for Neil Lennon to be replaced at Celtic Park, where fans demonstrated raucously on Sunday night, with three police staff suffering “minor injuries” (BBC).

In his statement, he offered nothing to calm the mood. Milquetoast sentiments about “moving forward together” just won’t do it for a Celtic support who are increasingly united on the dismissal of the manager.

Really, it’s a Statement About Nothing. The board are confident in their decision making.

To be fair, this is the same board that has set Celtic up to win a potential Quadruple-Treble. They will always refer to that success in any discussion where they come under scrutiny. That’s their right, and they’re entitled to do so.

However, to insist that there has been “no complacency” under the current regime is laughable. Clearly, they’re not watching the same matches the rest of us are.

The dictionary definition of complacency is a “feeling of calm satisfaction with your own abilities or situation that prevents you from trying harder”.

While few could accuse the board of not trying to make the right moves in the transfer market, the fact that a manager who was meant to be temporary is still at the club despite colossally bad form is an act of complacency.

If Lennon was the right coach to take us forward, in the calibre of Brendan Rodgers, he would never have left Celtic Park in the first place.

It’s more bland sentiment from a board that is scared to act.

Aye. We agree, Pete. / (Photo by Craig Foy/SNS Group via Getty Images)

Once again, this isn’t personal

Again: nobody associated with Celtic Football Club, especially writers and supporters, wish ill on Neil Lennon. If anybody wants Neil Lennon to succeed, it’s the supporters.

If we are able to seal 10IAR under Lenny, it’d be a perfect moment. There’s nobody we would rather was in charge to lift that 10th consecutive title.

It’s just that it looks increasingly unlikely to be the case.

From an objective standpoint, it might seem hysterical. Lennon’s only lost two domestic games in this calendar year. However, the expectations at Celtic are sky high, and Lennon has a massive role in creating that hype. If anyone knows the standards required, it’s Neil Lennon.

His role in our recent success is not up for debate. He’s given everything to Celtic.

However, he’s a part of the machinery at Celtic that continues to alienate the supporters, with his bizarre press conferences and demeanour on the touchline a large part of the problem.

This excuse for a rallying cry only worsens the situation. Call us entitled all you want, but we deserve better.