Once again, it was all chaos for Celtic on Wednesday.
All the focus was on Celtic’s clash against Dundee United, and the pressure on Wilfried Nancy amid his horror start.
But before Celtic could lose to Dundee United, the news broke hours earlier, to the delight of many supporters, that Peter Lawwell had stepped down as chairman.
Celtic fans have been calling for Lawwell’s head for some time, and he doesn’t have many, outside of the boardroom, cheering for him.
But Tom English shared differing views that might divide opinion.
What is your immediate reaction to Peter Lawwell’s resignation?
Tom English calls Celtic’s departing chairman Peter Lawwell a ‘masterful’ football politician
Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland (17/12/25), English shared that he has had a mixed relationship with Lawwell over the years.
He then went on to state that he told ‘senior’ people at Rangers that their ‘problem over the last ten years’ is the fact that they don’t have someone like Lawwell in their boardroom.
English praised the 66-year-old for the work he has done at Scotland’s most successful club, including being ‘masterful in the arts of football politics.’
“In terms of Lawwell’s legacy,” said English.
“It’s something like 38 trophies in 18 years. I have dealt with him for a long time. I have had my fallings out with him. I have had good relationships with him.
“He was masterful in the arts of football politics. He had a kind of chess player’s ability to plan a few moves ahead.
“The old cliche about Peter Lawwell running Scottish football. There was a fair degree of truth about that for many years.
“I said it very recently to someone very senior at Rangers, the part of the Rangers problem over the last ten years is that they haven’t had a Peter Lawwell.”
How will you remember Peter Lawwell’s time at Celtic?
Lawwell should ‘never have gone back’ to Celtic
Lawwell spent nearly two decades at Celtic, with a break in between, before leaving in 2021 and then making a return.
English feels that Lawwell should ‘never have gone back’, and Celtic’s recently cancelled AGM, was proof of that.
“A guy who is the totem of the club,” added English. “Knows the football politics. Knows the landscape. And he is a bit of a colossus.
“Now, he lost his way during the ten-in-a-row season. And this season. He probably should never have gone back as chairman.
“But for many, many years, Lawwell was overseeing an operation that was trophy-laden. A lot of good times. They should have progressed in Europe.
“I think Peter Lawwell should be remembered, and it might take a while for Celtic fans to acknowledge this, but he was a hugely successful chief executive at that club.”
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
