Peter Lawwell: Celtic chairman to step down from board following ‘insupportable’ abuse and threats

Celtic chairman Peter Lawwell has revealed he’s stepping down from the membership’s board on account of “abuse and threats”.

The 66-year-old joined Celtic in 2003 as chief government and held that place for 18 years, earlier than returning in 2023 as non-executive chairman.

However, he and different members of the membership’s board have confronted protests from supporters in latest months who’ve criticised their switch exercise and the long-term soccer technique.

Wednesday seventeenth December 7:00pm


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During a turbulent spell off the pitch, there was additionally public questioning of the switch course of by former boss Brendan Rodgers, who resigned in October.

An open letter, backed by a whole bunch of signatories, representing tens of hundreds of followers, was additionally issued to the board, plus the membership’s AGM in November was deserted after solely 25 minutes with heckles of ‘sack the board’ from shareholders.

Fans additionally displayed banners in protest at matches, plus have been usually heard chanting in opposition to the board and even disrupted video games by throwing objects on to the pitch.

Lawwell – who oversaw a complete of 38 trophy triumphs throughout his time in Glasgow – says the abuse and threats at the moment are “intolerable”.

Meanwhile, chief government Michael Nicholson mentioned “this is a sad day for Celtic” and main shareholder Dermot Desmond added that he was “very sorry to lose Peter” however understood his resolution.

Why was Lawwell focused in protests?

Sky Sports News’ Gordon Duncan:

“It’s a very complex situation at Celtic. From the outside, people probably look at a club that wins pretty much everything. Over the last couple of decades, they have won the most trophies here in Scotland, so people will wonder why there’s so much unrest.

“However, there has at all times been this sense amongst the Celtic supporters, or a minimum of a few of them, that the membership needs to be doing extra, they need to attempt to construct from a place of power. Maybe they need to spend extra, perhaps they need to spend higher, perhaps they need to attempt extra for European progress. We noticed all this rear its head when Brendan Rodgers left, and this has been effervescent away and intensifying.

“We’ve seen ‘sack the board’ chants and banners, plus tennis ball protests disrupting games, so there is a level of unrest between some of the Celtic supporters and the board.

“Peter Lawwell was the CEO, he ran the membership on a day-to-day foundation. Since he is come again as chairman, I’m positive he can be eager to level out that he not runs the membership on a day-to-day foundation, and that’s left to others.

“It has always felt like some Celtic fans either didn’t quite believe that or didn’t quite acknowledge that he was in a different role, and maybe believed that he still had more of an influence than he actually did. We’ll never know behind closed doors.”

Sutton: ‘I really feel unhappy for Lawwell and his household’

Sky Sports’ Chris Sutton:

“It’s been a difficult season for Celtic on and off the field. For Peter to step down today after 21 years at the club which has been a really succesful period.

“In his assertion, speaking in regards to the abuse he and his household have suffered. It is not on.

“In many ways I feel really sad for him and his family that they had to put up with that level of abuse.

“It’s a tragic day for Peter Lawwell, who did a lot for the membership.”

Lawwell statement in full as he steps down ‘with sadness’

In a press release, Lawwell mentioned: “It is with sadness that I announce my decision to stand down as chairman of Celtic FC.

“I imagine that my 18 years as chief government and three years as chairman on the membership have proven my skill to satisfy and overcome challenges on many fronts, however abuse and threats from some sources have elevated and at the moment are insupportable.

“They have dismayed and alarmed my family. At this stage in my life, I don’t need this. I cannot accept this and so I leave the club I have loved all my life.

“The motivations and goals of those detractors might be investigated by others. I choose to look again on my profession at Celtic with deep gratitude and satisfaction.

“My time at the club has brought joy to someone whose memories as a Celtic fan include standing as a schoolboy on the terraces as the European Cup was paraded at Celtic Park on that magical night in 1967.

“I’ve subsequently watched some nice European nights at Paradise and am proud that the membership has performed group-stage soccer in all however two of the final 21 years whereas additionally having fun with home dominance.

“I also take great pleasure in the continuing and ever more substantial impact of Celtic FC Foundation. The club’s foundation impacts so many lives in the Celtic Family and far beyond. We are more than a football club and the foundation is the most obvious evidence of this truth.

“Our achievements were all made possible by a dedicated workforce and a fervent support binding together. I am deeply proud and privileged to have been part of that.

“My life on the membership has included dramatic ups and downs in soccer however they’ve additionally given me the expertise, drive and need which I’ll tackle to my subsequent undertaking, no matter and wherever that could be.

“My thanks go to my many colleagues over the years who have supported me, and I am grateful to the coaches and players who delivered this era of remarkable and historic success.”

‘A tragic day for Celtic’

Celtic’s principal shareholder Dermot Desmond added: “I am personally very sorry to lose Peter as our chairman, but I understand and respect his decision, in light of recent events and what he has endured.

“I wish to pay tribute to Peter for all he has given Celtic over so a few years. As chief government, Peter was the driving drive of the membership, and in his later position as chairman he oversaw board affairs.

“Peter has witnessed 38 cup or title triumphs in his time at the Club, a period of extraordinary domestic dominance for us as we have also competed in European football.

“Peter has additionally overseen the constructing of our coaching centre at Lennoxtown, the creation of the brand new facility at Barrowfield and the upgrading of Celtic Park, all of which have been underpinned by the monetary stability which has grow to be the cornerstone of the membership below his management. Celtic is in a robust place to resist regardless of the future might throw at us.”

The membership’s chief government, Michael Nicholson, who has additionally confronted protests this season, mentioned: “This is a sad day for Celtic. The abuse and threats directed towards Peter, and the impact on his family, are completely unacceptable. Such conduct will never be tolerated by the club.

“A lifelong supporter, with Celtic in his blood, Peter gave the whole lot to the membership, working tirelessly and standing up for the membership with willpower, ardour and power. Every resolution he made was taken in one of the best pursuits of the membership and our supporters.”