Celtic’s AGM was a strange affair, despite being in rude health both on and off the park, there was a raft of complaints from disgruntled shareholders, as reported by The Daily Record, one questioned the “bizarre” level of chief executive, Peter Lawwell’s salary only to be vigorously defended by Neil Lennon and chairman Ian Bankier.
The chairman was first to speak on his chief executive:
“We buy value for money, we buy in the market and we buy what market prices are as best we can. I would have no hesitation in saying Peter Lawwell is worth every penny that we pay him”.
Lennon then supported the man who controls the purse strings by reiterating:
“I’ve been in football for a long, long time as a player, coach and manager. Peter is the best and sometimes you have to pay for the best”.
Lawwell hasn’t always been popular amongst Celtic fans, a £2.3m bonus earlier this year annoyed fans in a season where they missed out on John McGinn by a fifth of that figure.
He was also seen as responsible for not backing Lennon earlier in the transfer window this summer which led to the Hoops crashing out of the Champions League with key players like Christopher Jullien not up to full fitness in time for the play-off matches.
Is Peter Lawwell good value for money?
Yes
No
In a meeting where the Green Brigade were blamed for costing the club a £500k player, Celtic fans took to Twitter in response to Bankier and Lennon’s evasive praise of Lawwell.
Peter Lawwell joined the board in October 2003.
His salary for the 1st 8 months was £166k (£250k p.a.)
Celtic T/O was £69m. Wages were £40m.Turnover last season £83m. Wages £56m. PL £3.5m
So turnover up 20%, wage bill up 40%, Peter’s salary up 1300%
For what exactly ?
— stephen r (@cardiffbhoy) November 27, 2019
Same guy who didn’t want to pay the living wage to his staff
— Sassleigh (@Ashleigh_272) November 28, 2019
His salary is an absolute disgrace.
— DC (@DC94__) November 28, 2019
Since he started with us he has taken 10k per day inc wages and bonuses
— Benny logue (@finlay1916) November 27, 2019
I wish the question at the AGM was how his salary compares to clubs of similar size. Hes paid top end EPL wages when we’ve reached the champions league only twice in the last 5 years.
— Wolfe Of Parkhead 🍀🏴 (@ParkheadWolfe) November 27, 2019
Utter drivel. Does Lawwell care about the club when he repeatedly hampers us for CL qualifiers? When he tried to sell Edouard to Monaco this summer? Chose cheap Mulumbu over McGinn? Rangers died as they used illegal means to bypass tax.
— C67 (@Cr02887062) November 28, 2019
Lawwell can’t be faulted in terms of his business acumen, however, the Hoops faithful were right to question him in the summer regarding the club’s transfer activity. Every team knows that the qualifiers, and pre-season training start early so, business should be concluded as soon as possible to give the best possible chance of reaching the Champions League.