Thread: Lawwell, Reid: Time to Lead or Quit

Written by Eddie Pearson
Sunday, 11 April 2010 21:51
Over the past month we have witnessed some dramatic scenes as Celtic supporters. On the 24th of March St Mirren put 4 goals past Celtic. On the 25th of March Peter Lawwell drove to Lennoxtown and dismissed Tony Mowbray and his coaching staff. The only statement we as supporters have heard from the man behind this decision is the following: "This is a very sad day for everyone at Celtic. Tony is a very fine man and someone who I know is passionate about the club he served so well as a player. Clearly, we have had a difficult season and results have not been as we would have hoped. Tony is equally disappointed at some of our results this season but working so closely with him I know that throughout his period as manager he has always given the club his total and absolute commitment. Tony will always maintain a strong affection for Celtic and I am sure he will always be highly thought of within the Celtic family. He is a man who demonstrates decency and integrity in everything he does. I have enjoyed an excellent relationship with him and I certainly wish Tony, Mark Venus and Peter Grant all the very best for the future.”


"He is a man who demonstrates decency and intergrity in everything he does." Now that's ironic isn't it?
Immediately after Tony Mowbray was sacked the PR people at Celtic Park let it be known that neither Lawwell or John Reid would be available to discuss this turn of events for at least a week. It was made clear that only Neil Lennon would be put before the TV cameras or the radio microphones in the short term and no questions about Mowbray's sacking would be permitted. It was assumed by various journalists that once the dust had settled at least one of the main men would do a sit down with some friendly hacks and the issues would be discussed. As you all know this did not happen in the weeks following the sacking of the manager.
Not one of the decision makers at the club stepped forward and admitted responsibility for the appointment of Tony Mowbray. Not one of the decision makers had the decency to speak to the "customers" about the extremely poor business decisions which have been made over the past 18 months. There has yet to be an acknowledgement of what we all know - the decision makers at the club made a dramatic misjudgement in the downsizing of the club following Seville, they made a dramatic misjudgement in the appointment of Strachan, they made a dramatic misjudgement in the January transfer window in 2009 when we spent the grand total of "undisclosed fee" and they made a dramatic misjudgement in the appointment of Tony Mowbray.


Now let's be clear - Mowbray was an appointment that I was in favour of and as such I cannot be overly critical of that one but they got it wrong all the way down the line. They are paid to make the right decisions and they have failed to do this. As the support look back over the past decade we can see that rather than a "generation of domination" we have enjoyed 3 great years at the start and then endured 7 years of descent from that great height to eventually crash and burn over the past month. The current decision makers at the club have presided over a decline which is shameful. Look at May 2003 and trace our decline from that day.


The current Chief Executive joined the club in November 2003. Coincidence?


The days of being considered the sharp suited man are long gone for Lawwell. In the early days the support were seduced by his Murrayesque utterings to the press. However, eventually we came to see these statements for what they really were - empty promises. And as we became less inclined to fall for his lines Lawwell moved further into the background and the new Chairman, John Reid, stepped up to the plate.


Crowd pleasing comments about the R*ngers songbook and hypocritical comments about leaving politics at the door didn't convince many but he soldiered on. However, it was during the recent AGM when the mask finally slipped and his flair for intimidation came to the fore - snide comments to the Celtic Trust regardless of what the support may think of them is not what is expected of a Celtic Chairman. The position demands a degree of class and this former cabinet minister has none. However, the one thing Reid does have and Lawwell used to have is an opinion that they are only too happy to share.


So the question has to be asked: where are they? The silence from the top offices at Celtic Park over the past month has been deafening. Where is the chairman? Where is the Chief Executive? Where are the decision makers who have brought us to this low point in our history?


The answer is obvious - they are hiding.


John Reid is quick enough to have a pop at supporters who question him during AGMs. He's quick enough to invite divisive figures such as the Israeli Ambassador to the club while at the same time telling the support to "leave their politics at the door." Peter Lawwell is quick enough to jet over to South Korea to announce the signing of a new player. He is quick enough to announce joint sponsorship deals which he knows are not in the best interests of the support or the club. Our club is in the midst of its greatest crisis in the past decade and we badly need leadership and someone to show vision. Neil Lennon cannot provide that due to the temporary nature of his position. It is the responsibility of the decision makers to step forward and lead. That is what they are paid for and that is why they are in post. Someone has to explain why the decision to sack Tony Mowbray was made even if the evidence is overwhelming. Someone has to explain what action is being taken to find a suitable manager for August. Someone has to explain to the support just why the decision makers have made such awful decisions over the past seven years which have led us to the events of the past month.


Whilst not engaging brilliantly with new media the club have made attempts to develop lines of communication with the fans. We have a website, a weekly newspaper and an online tv show. We also have at least one or two sympathetic journalists who would provide Reid or Lawwell with a platform to communicate their vision of the future to the fans. There is no excuse for not doing this. It is essential that at least one of the decision makers at the club engages with the support in the early part of the coming week. We need clarity as to the direction of the club.


Strachan lost his job because he was to blame for the loss of the league last season. Mowbray lost his job because he was to blame for the loss of the league this season. Neil Lennon will not be appointed as permanent manager because he was to blame for the defeat against Ross County.


Lawwell and Reid have to realise that they are running out of fall guys. They must step into the spotlight they have previously appeared to crave and explain where the club is going. What is their vision for our club? Or do they simply cow-tow to Dermot Desmond? They should remember that the majority shareholder in Celtic remains the support. They must show the "decency and integrity" their positions as employees of Celtic Football Club demand. For all his faults even Kevin Kelly had the decency face the fans on Sport in Question.


Lawwell and Reid must lead from the front and if they are unwilling or unable to do so they must step down

fuck john reid

read this mr reid get TO FUCK!

Not for one minute do i like john reid. . .

but that article is no better than dailly record shit stirring bullshit

Originally Posted by Dermy21

I also didn't know that he had invited the Isreali Ambassador to the club after telling the support to "leave their politics at the door" fucking joke that.

i would like to see the proof of this

Originally Posted by St.Sixtus

i would like to see the proof of this

It's common knowledge. He was also responsible for the poppies.

Originally Posted by Green2thecore

It's common knowledge. He was also responsible for the poppies.

aye will not argue with that. . .i had actually forgot about that for a minute.

An absolute shameful escapade

Originally Posted by IXI Liam IXI

Its time something was done about these cunts. Another Celts For Change sort of thing, because if things do not change soon and drastically its the same route we are heading down.

Wont happen. . .

I was involved with CFC at the time. . .these days the youngsters just want to rebel against this that or anything, and the older ones cant be arsed. . .

Its a different world. . . who is gonna be the next matt mcglone after all the shite he got. . .its pointless. . .

Ye've got to make a decision, a desision I'm wrankled with. . .Is it worth it. . .Are we still celtic, or is it just a conglomerate. . .

I've had a season ticket for 18 years. .This year, I really dont know

Originally Posted by keano

six mate renew fuck all season ticket these useless cunts dont deserve another penny outta us or our support

To be honest mate. . .for the last 3 years . . .although I've had my card,. .I have hardly been to a game. . .its pish. . .

my bhoy is 3, and I just want him to have the good times I had as a wean goin to see the celtic. . .but really. . .its not gonna happen. . . yer not allowed to stand up and sing about huns and sefton horse and lord mountbatten. . .

fukk it

shoot john reid