“Peter Lawwell has personally assured me…” | OneFootball

Since Peter Lawwell returned to Celtic as non-executive Chairman, following his 17 years as CEO, the club appears, from the outside looking in granted, to have reverted to type after Dominic McKay’s short stint as CEO.

Ange Postecoglou and Dominic McKay Unveiling – Celtic Park Celtic new manager Ange Postecoglou poses for a photo at Celtic Park Glasgow. Picture date: Friday June 25, 2021. Photo: Jeff Holmes

Michael Nicholson’s internal appointment to replace McKay has seen a return to familiar operating patterns. We’ve covered that before on The Celtic Star so now we’ll focus instead on Hugh Keevins’ recent comments on Clyde Superscoreboard — and what they tell us, or don’t tell us, about Lawwell’s role in transfers.

Here’s what Hugh Keevins had to say –

Peter Lawwell is seen during the Cinch Scottish Premiership match between Heart of Midlothian and Celtic FC at Tynecastle Park on October 22, 2023.(Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

‘Let’s be honest about Peter Lawwell first of all. Peter Lawwell has personally assured me that he has nothing whatsoever to do with transfers – nothing at all. He may be the Chairman of the club, but he has told me, and in no uncertain terms, that he has nothing to do with transfers. So, you are looking at Michael Nicholson who is the CEO and all of those in the recruitment department.’

Keevins claims Lawwell ‘personally assured’ him that he has ‘nothing whatsoever to do with transfers.’ He repeated that Lawwell told him, in no uncertain terms, that the recruitment process is handled entirely by CEO Michael Nicholson and the recruitment department.

Michael Nicholson is seen during the Premier Sports Cup match between Celtic and Hibernian at Celtic Park on August 18, 2024 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

If we accept Keevins’ version of events as accurate, it still raises questions. The first may sound petty to some, but it matters. If Lawwell wants fans to know he’s not involved in transfers, why do we have to hear it through Hugh Keevins? Celtic have an in-house media team, Celtic TV, and a host of ways to address supporters directly. Is the issue that communication leads to transparency, transparency leads to accountability, and accountability can lead to scrutiny, even criticism?

If it bothers Lawwell that he’s being perceived as involved, why not have Nicholson, Paul Tisdale, and Chris McKay explain how transfers actually work? What’s to fear in being open about the process? It would do far more to reassure supporters than a private phone call to a journalist with a mixed reputation at best among the fanbase.

There’s also the Mandy Rice-Davies factor — ‘he would say that, wouldn’t he?’ Even if his stance is accurate, Celtic are a PLC, and the idea of a non-exec Chairman influencing transfers would be a bad look. It would undermine the CEO, particularly when that CEO was appointed without the experience of his predecessor and arguably could invite scrutiny from some shareholders too.

And then there’s the question of indirect influence. Under Dom McKay, Celtic’s transfer approach shifted. It became swift, decisive, and effective, with influence across two windows. Since Nicholson’s appointment, the style has arguably reverted to the familiar Lawwell-era model. Add in the controversial appointment of Mark Lawwell as Head of First Team Scouting and Recruitment, before Tisdale took up the renamed position as Head of Football Operations, and the echoes of the past grow louder.

Paul Tisdale manager of Milton Keynes Dons during the Sky Bet League One match between Milton Keynes Dons and AFC Wimbledon at Stadium mk on September 07, 2019 (Photo by Paul Harding/Getty Images)

During Lawwell’s 17 years as CEO, countless senior appointments would have gone through him. Those people, in turn, would have operated under his direction and within his ‘standard operating procedures.’ It’s not unreasonable to think Nicholson might lean heavily on Lawwell as he learned the ropes, or that the habits of the Lawwell years continue to shape how Celtic operates.

Keevins may be correct — Lawwell might not be picking up the phone to agents or negotiating fees. But when McKay’s tenure is such a clear outlier, is it really a leap to assume that the club has fallen back into similar patterns? Nicholson may have the authority, but does he have full autonomy? In the absence of direct communication we can but speculate.

Celtic Chairman Peter Lawwell and Chief Executive Michael Nicholson in the directors box. Celtic v Kilmarnock, Cinch Scottish Premiership, 17 February 2024. Photo Stuart Wallace Shutterstock

If Celtic want to stop fans from drawing the ‘wrong’ conclusions, there’s a simple solution to that. We could act like a modern football club. Engage with supporters. Be open about processes. Accept that transparency invites accountability, and accountability sometimes brings both scrutiny and criticism.

That would be far more convincing than hearing second-hand denials from a pundit.

After all, what do Celtic have to fear from telling their own story?

Niall J

Conor Spence attended the Celtic fan media conference at Celtic Park on Thursday to represent The Celtic Star and to speak to Celtic legend James Forrest. Here’s the video…

More Stories / Latest News

“Peter Lawwell has personally assured me…”

Aug 10 2025, 0:00

Ex-Celt Steven Pressley inspires Dundee to Ibrox upset

Aug 9 2025, 20:41

Celtic hold ‘touching the trophies’ event for sensory-impaired supporters

Aug 9 2025, 19:12

CELTIC IN THE EIGHTIES BY DAVID POTTER, FOREWORD BY DANNY McGRAIN is published by Celtic Star Books on the fifth day of September. You can pre-order now to guarantee your copy which will be signed by Danny McGrain, with just a limited number of signed copies still available, although they are selling very quickly.

Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter, pre-order now

Alec McNair – Celtic’s Icicle now FREE and with FREE postage when ordering with David Potter’s last book Celtic in the Eighties

And there’s another great benefit for readers who pre-order their copy of Celtic in the Eighties. You will also receive a copy of an earlier David Potter book – Celtic’ Icicle – Alec McNair – which you’ll receive for FREE when you pre-order with Celtic in the Eighties. So you get two great Celtic books by David Potter and better still the postage is only charged on one. Click on the image below to order. (Just order Celtic in the Eighties and we’ll automatically add a copy of the Alec McNair book).

Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Foreword by Danny McGrain. Published on Celtic Star Books on 5 September 2025. Click on image to pre-order.

Help raise funds for Celtic Youth Academy by playing the Celtic Pools Weekly Lottery and you could win up to £25,000. The lottery is £1 per week. Click on image to join.