Mark Lawwell’s departure from Celtic has been officially painted with the broad strokes of a resignation. However, given the timing and the club’s eagerness to broadcast this move, one can’t help but sniff the scent of a nudge rather than a voluntary step down.
The peculiarities of this exit are not lost on myself and the Celtic fans, who, after another disappointing transfer window, have been left wondering if this move is akin to offering a sacrificial lamb to appease the gods.
If so, I imagine the Sunday dinner at the Lawwell residence would be something to behold. A meal, presumably served with a side of awkward silence, if Mark’s dad was part of the decision making process that his son would take the heat for all Celtic’s woes this season.
The question on every Celtic supporter’s mind is whether Mark Lawwell’s departure is the first domino to fall in a series of changes within the club’s management.
The Celtic board, criticised for harboring too many members past their prime, faces a critical examination. Experience, once a valued asset, has morphed into a barrier against the innovative thinking required to propel the club forward.
Over the past two decades, the duo of Dermot Desmond and Peter Lawwell has steered Celtic to mostly domestic bliss yet left the club wanting on the European stage. The narrative of being European cannon fodder, even against clubs of similar or lesser stature, has grown tiresomely familiar. This stagnation begs the question: Is it time for the old guard to ditch self-preservation and make way for fresh perspectives?
Is Ross Desmond being readied to be more hands on at the club? If that were the case I’d imagine there would be changes afoot. Although, while the echoes of nepotism run through the club, the optics of Ross taking over from his dad is less than ideal. However, it would be welcome if positive changes were to come from it.
If those currently at the helm truly have Celtic’s best interests at heart, acknowledging the detrimental effects of their inertia is paramount. The club’s legacy and potential demand a shift from complacency to proactive evolution. The departure of Mark Lawwell might just be the storm before the transformation, challenging the club to redefine its ambitions in pursuit of loftier goals.
But the more sceptical among us will believe nothing profound will come out of this whether Celtic win or lose the title. A board that gives off the vibe ‘we know best’ isn’t conducive or open to examining its own folly.
