The Departure Of Mark Lawwell Is Welcome. Shame On Those Who Hired Him.

Mark Lawwell goes, and he goes with the “thanks” of the club ringing in his ears. Yeah, thanks for wasting our time and money but for doing the right thing in the end and going before we have to explain to season ticket holders why they are still paying your salary. Except, as you’ll see, we are still paying his salary.

I don’t want to hear any revisionism from he or daddy’s pals.

The hiring of this guy was a lamentable decision and a grotesque failure on the part of every one of our non-executive directors to do proper due diligence and hold others inside the club to account. To be frank, his alleged resignation is way too late and way too little to satisfy those of us who are appalled that he ever had the gig in the first place.

It was a decision so bad that heads should have rolled.

And they still should.

The people who sanctioned that have a Hell of a lot to answer for. This club is run in a shocking manner, by people whose contempt for us shows through in decisions such as these. He was grossly unqualified, no matter what people might say, and his tenure has been a disaster.

Four transfer windows and not one first choice guaranteed starter has been signed. When we go out to replace him we better do a proper search and bring in a properly qualified professional who works to the manager’s remit instead of the chairman’s.

Lawwell senior ought not to be far behind him in leaving the club, and as junior has taken some of his team with him, so daddy Lawwell should take some of his long term lackies on the Celtic board.

Celtic’s statement says Lawwell and his number two will be on “gardening leave.” Isn’t that what usually happens when you get relieved of your duties rather than when you resign? It means he’s basically sitting at home doing nothing and still getting his wages. It’s hard not to wonder if he’s not actually resigned but effectively been sacked.

And if so, perhaps this is just the beginning. Perhaps the rumours of a Desmond board-room clear-out were accurate after all.

It’s clear enough that this guy’s failure was recognised at the top of the club otherwise he wouldn’t be going anywhere, and although the club has dressed it up as best they can by framing it as “exploring new opportunities” the statement also makes it clear that we’re still paying him as he explores them from his greenhouse.

I don’t care that the club continues to take us for fools and their official statement on this contains contradictions and holes.

I care only that we’re in a better place today than we were yesterday and there’s little doubt that this is now the case.

His is the first head to roll. It should – it must not – be the last one.