Former Celtic hero and now pundit Chris Sutton has reacted to the departure of the Hoops’ head of first-team scouting and recruitment Mark Lawell, insisting he is to blame for the recent poor transfer activity.
It was announced on Friday that Lawell, along with lead first-team scout Joe Dudgeon, resigned and will be placed on gardening leave until the end of the campaign. Manager Brendan Rodgers wished both well for the future.
Lawell joined the club in the summer of 2022. Recruitment has seemingly gone downhill since he came in the door.
Sutton reckons the son of Celtic’s chairman is to blame for a disappointing January and poor window last summer: “There were questions over who was to blame for January – and the window last summer”, he said (RecordSport).
“Now it looks like we have the answer. Celtic might say Mark Lawwell is leaving to pursue other opportunities but it looks like he’s fallen on his sword.
“The chairman [Peter Lawell] said the club shared the frustration about the lack of signings in the window when Brendan Rodgers had said he needed four quality recruits. The big question was why – and who was to blame? I think we now know.”
Fans have been pointing fingers towards the likes of Lawell and Dudgeon for poor transfer activity, and the majority are pleased that the duo have departed the club. The news came somewhat out of the blue, but it was welcomed by the supporters.
Looking ahead, some fans are calling for structural reform at Celtic. Many are of the opinion a sporting director should be appointed to oversee the footballing department and put a strategic, long-term plan in place.
Whether such a move will come to fruition remains to be seen but having a figure who is responsible for the club’s overall philosophy from the youth to the first teams, its recruitment of players, and long-term strategy is common within those of an elite level.
That is what the likes of Michael Nicholson and Lawell Senior want Celtic to reach, although it is up to them how they attempt to strategise such an ambition.
