General George S Patton is credited with the following quote:
“If everybody is thinking alike, then somebody isn’t thinking.”
The allied commander whose armoured divisions punched deep into Nazi Germany after D-Day did not want to be surrounded by sycophants.
Instead, he wanted his staff officers to tell their boss when they thought he had made a strategic error.
That was because he knew that such mistakes had deadly serious consequences for those under his command.
Successful CEO’s are like that too.
Yesterday I caught up with a very well-placed source who could tell me about the turmoil behind the scenes at Parkhead.
Of course, this season is rapidly unravelling, and that means that someone, somewhere had made a serious strategic error.
For the avoidance of doubt, such mistakes always always always happen at the top of an organisation.
I was told that it had been pointed out to Celtic’s imperious CEO that “all of this has happened on your watch!”
Given the identity of the person who said that to Mr Lawwell, then it is fair to say that Pedro’s time at Kerrydale Street might be coming to an end sooner rather than later.
He is undoubtedly under more scrutiny now than at any time since April 2016.
The simple truth about Mr Lawwell is that he has been in his post for far too long.
How it started.
How it’s going.
Unlike old “blood and guts”, Mr Lawwell seems to prefer obedient unanimity in his command post.
The failures of the team are, fairly and squarely laid at the door of the manager.
However, in my opinion, the author of Celtic’s general malaise is the all-powerful CEO.
Mr Desmond knows that, and therefore it is down to him to do something about it.
Sadly, it is only the man with the moustache who can affect the change that is so desperately needed at Celtic.
And finally, congratulations are in order to Mr David Cunningham King.
He leaves Sevco with a substantial wedge of the People’s cash.
Football finance expert David Low, as ever, is on the money.
His reign of error after the Off Licence Putsch in 2015 was a huge window of opportunity for Celtic.
Sadly, it was squandered by the Untitled Director of Football in the Parkhead boardroom.
That is why Sevco’s tanks are currently parked on Celtic’s heated driveway.
Not a good look…
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Peter lawwell has been the reason celtic have stayed well ahead of anyone other team in this country, he is leaving at the end of the year and celtic will struggle to replace him, he amd the board have backed every manager they appointed even done to the last few months of brendan reign, lennon has had two players for every position on the pitch it is not the boards fault he cannot coach them or pick tactics, it’s the Irish man’s fault this mess we are in just now, if you believe lennon is still the man to tske us forward tell me one player who is flourishing under him.
Who appointed Neil Lennon? A decision and act that tarnished what should have been a day of celebration.
Lenny has needed more qualified support I feel. Whether he or Peter know it is where the difficulties lie.
As a support we need to identify our strengths should we wish to exert real pressure. It’s been a while since we last did and it’ll not take us long to do it again.
PLC needs to get with the CFC!
Cheers Phil
Is peter nor stepping down at the end of the season he will announce it at the AGM before the resolutions is mentioned as that will get him off the hook
Sadly, I think Lawless has concluded that 10IAR is bad for business. He’s calculated that Rangers winning the league and staying alive will, in the long run, make more money for Celtic (and himself).
The board will be judged on the balance sheet and performance of the club in the stock exchange. But It is a balancing act and the performance of the team will aid in the former.
However it is outrageous to slate the manager at this time. It is hatred that is behind this. Do the Celtic Bloggers and GB hate Lennon, the team and the club.
We do not like the recent results, but non of the abuse will help anything, even if we replace the manager, and the new boss loses a match. What then. The same abuse till a new one comes in.
We are Celtic supporters, Faithful through and through. well some of us……
TOM….how exactly is wanting rid of a completely inept manager, who has failed on every KPI set out fur him at season start, classed as hatred, NL has been a fantastic servant tae Celtic, but his whole style of management was fashionable and effective in the 80/90s, passion for Celtic is what’s driving ALOT of fans to vent their anger towards the board but also the manager, and absolutely rightly so, Lennon wanted players retaining that were desperate tae leave, then calls them out for not performing for him and says they can leave, Lawell found a patsy in Lennon, but Lennon has orchestrated his own downfall, its been gross dereliction of duty on all involved at the top at Celtic, and they will pay for it, so many people asleep at the wheel is inexcusable, avoidable but inexcusable, and keeping the faith is different than blind faith…BACK THE TEAM SACK THE BOARD
His style of management before the lockdown had us playing football as good as the best we played in the invincible season. Something has happened behind the scenes and if what I’m hearing is true then it explains a lot.
We WILL, in all probability, take another beating tomorrow night. Not because Lennon is the manager, but because Milan ARE a far better side than us.
We’ve been poor in Europe this season, but for all the furore the loss to Ross County was only our third domestic defeat since we lost to Livingston FOURTEEN MONTHS AGO.
I’ve said BEFORE and I’ll say again. NOTHING matters THIS season but the league.
If someone had said to me before a ball was kicked, “You can have the title by one point, but you’ll get roasted in Europe and go out of both domestic cups in the first round.” my reply would have been very swift, “I’ll take it.”
We’ve got forever to think about Europe and the cup run had to end sometime. The opportunity to do TEN this season might NEVER come round again. It certainly won’t in my lifetime.
Tom, it’s ridiculous to suggest that hatred is behind an opinion that the manager is not capable of sorting out the obvious problems with team performance. As a long serving Celt as player, coach and manager Neil certainly doesn’t deserve to be verbally abused or be the subject of pathetic banners – by a small number of morons.
Faithful through and through but not blind faith.
Did the players and Manager deserve abuse before the Match on Sunday…That would show ineptness amongst the support. The ST money was paid not for the 10 IAR but it was in the same way as all the other teams in the league…..Supporting the Club not just for this year. .
And now the talk of refunds. What will that do to our club this year next year or ten years from now.
We are here for the long term, not blind Faith …..just Faith.
Judged by the balance sheet?
50,000 + Celtic fans have forked out cash on season tickets to help the club out financially this season. They did so in the full knowledge that they might not get to attend a single match. The deal was a simple one. “We put up our cash, you deliver TEN.”
If PL has done ANYTHING to cause the club’s side of the deal to fall through he’ll be down at the Barras next May trying to flog season tickets for a tenner.
See how good the balance sheet looks then.
DD and the Board have blatantly been complacent, for well over a decade.
ANY organisation which has a CEO in position for 17 years is not going to be as innovative or as well run as it could or should be.
Fresh ideas might not be welcomed as groupthink takes over.
It’s not rocket science.
And there is the inherent risk that a personal fiefdom can result from such an unusually long tenure.
To complete the shambles after the departure of NL and PL…
all that’s needed is for DD to sell his stake to an American franchise! 🙁