Davie Provan has lambasted Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell as he highlighted the club’s poor summer recruitment work.
The Hoops potentially saw the final nail in their title coffin hammered down by Rangers at Ibrox yesterday. Despite bossing things in Govan, Neil Lennon’s Celtic again came away with nothing against our arch rivals.
Interestingly, only half of Celtic’s summer signings started the match. Vasilis Barkas was placed in goal whilst David Turnbull started as part of the midfield diamond. The likes of Mo Elyounoussi, Albian Ajeti, Shane Duffy were left rooted to the bench.
And Lawwell has come into the spotlight for Celtic’s position in the table – 19 points behind Rangers with three games in-hand. Pulling no punches, Provan slammed the way Celtic have allowed their rivals to catch up with them.
As quoted by the Scottish Sun, Provan said: “Unlike Rangers, who did their summer transfer business early, Celts were their usual lastminute.com. How difficult is it to sign players in time for Champions League qualifiers?
“But if Lenny is to be the fall guy, Hoops fans should see the bigger picture. The club needs a complete clearout. That applies to the boardroom as well as the dressing room. Eight years ago Rangers were on their knees. The liquidation of the Ibrox club was a lottery win for Lawwell. In Gers’ absence, Celts could play Monopoly with the league title, and get a free run at Champions League cash every year.
“But instead of building from a position of strength, they have blown it. Instead of keeping Gers in the rear-view mirror they have allowed them back into the game. In just eight years Rangers have emerged from the ashes of liquidation to become the best team in the country. You couldn’t make it up.”
This is what many Celtic fans feared post-Rodgers
It was absolutely vital that Celtic got the post-Rodgers appointment right. That’s why so many supporters were looking for the club to really show its ambition in that sense.
It’s why names such as Rafa Benitez were banded about as Rodgers’ potential successor. In the end, however, Celtic undoubtedly took the cheap option. They knew they could get away with running the club a certain way under Lennon.
For several years this club took itself seriously with the Rodgers appointment. We showed the levels we can reach and finally awoke what had felt like a sleeping giant under Ronny Deila.
But reverting back to Lennon was always going to send us right back to sleep in the long-term. Yes, Neil had a fine season last year in securing another treble. It was historic. However, he’s always struggled to build on his success. Celtic gradually got worse after the first couple of seasons during his first spell in charge.
The exact same is happening now. And the fact that Lawwell and co failed to act at the right time has been just as costly. Provan is spot on to point out the mismanagement from the boardroom. They may have invested more cash than normal in the summer, but they did so in the wrong man.
It doesn’t matter what way you look at it. Much of this can be traced back to Dermot Desmond and Lawwell’s own decision-making.
In other news, despite the damaging defeat yesterday, one Celtic colossus has been receiving plenty of praise.
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