Scotland’s traditional club Celtic Glasgow is deep in crisis. The third coach was installed this season. The criticism is directed at the board. Now boss Peter Lawwell is drawing conclusions.
After weeks of fan protests at troubled Scottish football champions Celtic Glasgow, club boss Peter Lawwell has announced his retirement at the end of the year. The 66-year-old said he believes “that my 18 years as managing director and three years as chairman of the club have shown that I am able to master and overcome challenges in many areas”.
However, “insults and threats from some quarters have increased and have now become unbearable,” said Lawwell: “They have upset and worried my family. At this stage of my life, I don’t need that. I cannot accept it and am therefore leaving the club that I have loved all my life.”
For weeks, the board of the traditional club has been criticized for a failed transfer policy. The Celtic supporters in the stadium recently showed their displeasure with banners and slogans, the mood is at rock bottom. The annual general meeting in November was canceled after 25 minutes after there were many shouts of “Board out”. Letters of protest were also submitted.
The start of Celtic’s new coach went terribly wrong
Celtic, who have won the title 13 times in the past 14 years and are record champions together with city rivals Glasgow Rangers, are currently only in second place in the Scottish championship. In the Champions League, the club failed to qualify against outsiders Qairat Almaty.
After the resignation of coach Brendan Rodgers in October, who had a falling out with the board, and the short-term engagement of interim coach Martin O’Neill, who won five competitive games, Frenchman Wilfried Nancy is now the third coach this season.
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However, its start went terribly wrong. There are four defeats, including the lost League Cup final against St. Mirren, which can be classified as a sensation. In the domestic league, Celtic are six points behind leaders Heart of Midlothian, but have also played two fewer games.
A development that is blamed on Lawwell and his fellow board members. The official has been at the helm of the club since 2023, after serving as managing director for 18 years from 2003 to 2021. During his time, Celtic collected 38 titles.
pk/dpa
