The Celtic scriptwriters obviously thought that things were going just too well for the Parkhead outfit.
In terms of bad decisions, the possibility of ex-CEO Peter Lawwell returning as the club chairman is right down there.
The incumbent Ian Bankier rose without a trace and is due to depart his role next January.
When he finally leaves the building, no one will really notice.
Yesterday I spoke with a Celtic shareholder who is well versed in business matters.
He introduced me to the QCA Code.
It is published by the Quoted Companies Alliance.
Every day is lá scoile for this fella.
Now, this chat was before the news broke that Mr Lawwell might be due for a comeback.
My guy was clear that the Celtic board was, in his opinion, dysfunctional, had been for a very long time and wasn’t carrying out their role to act in the best interests of ALL shareholders.
I put it to him that the board of a listed company should see their role in Jeffersonian terms and what we have instead is a Duma for a far away Czar.
He didn’t demur.
I was reminded of this today when I spoke to someone who was at the club’s AGM in 2019.
Mr Lawwell, then the CEO, was asked from the floor if he had ever seen the infamous Five Way Agreement.
The answer was an unequivocal “no”, and this somewhat baffled the shareholder who was also at the meeting.
He told me today that as he listened to the denial, he had, at that moment, in his pocket a hard copy of an email from Mr Neil Doncaster dated July 26th, 2012.
It was sent to, among others, Mr Lawwell at his Celtic email address.
The communication had attached a copy of said Five Way Agreement.
Consequently, I find Mr Lawwell’s denial at the 2019 AGM rather troubling.
Celtic supporters have recently displayed admirable unity of purpose in letting the powerbrokers at the club know that appointing Bernard Higgins as security chief was utterly unacceptable.
I wrote this piece about the issue at the time.
Here’s another one from the same period.
Finally, anyone who thinks that there might be anything positive in the appointment of Mr Lawwell to the big chair hasn’t been paying attention.
For one thing, they have not factored in how the current Celtic manager would react to the inevitable interference.
Don’t do it, Celtic.
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Surely the Chairman’s seat on the board at Celtic exists only for him (maybe her someday) to rest their arse on a previously sad business or political career and a soft cushion. I hope they have very little contact with our players. Then again, maybe I haven’t being paying enough attention.
Does anyone think that he ever really left the building.
As much chance as Boris being first minister of an independent Scotland
Surely not Celtic.
The new club must be struggling badly if they need his help again.
His son’s Celtic recruitment appointment was a hard swallow for many, Celtic FC cannot afford to upset the manager and / or his method of recruitment, and IF Lawwell came back, that almost certainly would do exactly that.
I feel Ange would walk away if there’s any interference at all in his methods.
For me that’s a hard and definite NO.
I think you’re spot on in everything you’ve said here. Last season Ange pulled the Board out of a huge hole they’d dug themselves into, by turning what looked like being a disastrous season into ultimately a very successful one. The Board got a VERY easy ride this summer on the back of that success.
The old firm enabler must never return to a position of power within our club.
We should at the very least, use this opportunity to move forward and establish our individual strengths without allowing ourselves to be forever associated with that disgusting animal from the south side.
To do anything else would be the biggest slap in the face to the most faithful and devoted support in football.
This former CEO has had his time and has created his legacy.
What would be worth voting for is a chairman in the Bunnet mould who would challenge everything!
Starting with today’s farcical season kick off where the runners up to the champions took centre stage.
The man is toxic. The support won’t stand for this appointment surely? I echo your closing remarks Phil. Don’t do it Celtic!
Labelled,the man who stopped the 10