WILL MICHAEL NICHOLSON AND PETER LAWWELL FOLLOW BRENDAN RODGERS OUT OF CELTIC PARK?
- BY LIAM CARRIGAN
- 19 hours ago
- 3 min read
Sometimes what you don’t say is just as, if not more important, than what you actually say.
After embarrassing himself and Celtic last night, it’s clear that Dermot Desmond, sadly didn’t seem to get the memo on that one.
Meanwhile, someone else at Celtic seems to have cooked up another firestorm in the meantime.
A glaring omission from yesterday’s formal announcement to the Stock Exchange, taken in tandem with last night’s unhinged rant from our biggest shareholder (not our owner), may point to a far bigger shake-up of club operations in the days ahead.
Michael Nicholson and Peter Lawwell conspicuously absent from Stock Exchange Announcement
Now, one of the many issues I have, and I’m sorry if I sound like a broken record at this point, with last nights “statement” from our biggest minority shareholder, is that he shouldn’t be making such statements, and certainly not via official club media, with the obvious inference that he is the voice of Celtic, which he isn’t.
That responsibility falls to our Chief Executive or our Chairman.
But what if both CEO Michael Nicholson and Peter Lawwell, our former CEO and now Chairman, are also headed for the Celtic Park exit shortly?
Well, there have already been rumors swirling around since last night that Nicholson was soon to depart his role.
Additionally, there has also been persistent speculation that Peter Lawwell will confirm his departure from Celtic at our still to be announced AGM, which should be next month.
The widespread publication this morning of Celtic’s Statement to the London Stock Exchange last night, regarding the departure of Brendan Rodgers has poured the proverbial petrol on the bonfire that is Celtic’s executive structure at the moment.
The statement read as follows:
27 October 2025.
CELTIC PLC
(“Celtic” or the “Club”)
Brendan Rodgers to leave Celtic
Celtic PLC confirms that first-team manager Brendan Rodgers will leave the Club immediately. He has today tendered his resignation which the Club has accepted. The Club would like to thank Brendan for his contribution to the Club during both of his periods at Celtic and wishes him success in the future.
Former Celtic manager Martin O’Neill and former Celtic player Shaun Maloney have agreed to lead the first team on an interim basis. The process of appointing Celtic’s next permanent Football Manager is already underway, and an update will be communicated in due course.
Enquiries:
Celtic PLC
Chris McKay,
Chief Financial Officer
Now, as I said before, the responsibility for these types of announcements falls upon the CEO, and failing that, the Chairman.
This is not ordinarily the purview of our Chief Financial Officer. Unless, he is filling in for people whom will soon depart.
It would also go some way to explaining why Dermot Desmond’s statement last night was published so soon after the official announcement (about 15 minutes) of Brendan Rodgers’ resignation.
Such a loose, and highly personal statement, appearing in such short order on Celtic’s official site would make at least a bit more sense if it wasn’t cleared with the CEO or Chairman in advance.
Again, maybe this is because Dermot Desmond already knows that neither Lawwell or Nicholson will be around Celtic for much longer, and as such felt less inclined to even go through the motions of pretending to care what other members of the executive board think.
This is just a rumor for now, but it certainly wouldn’t surprise me if Brendan Rodgers departure, followed today by John Kennedy and several other backroom staff, is the first step in a much wider shake up behind the scenes at Celtic Park.
However, as I said today, and I’ll say it again, the root of this problem is Desmond himself, and while he retains control, or at least the illusion of control over the rest of our board, the same fundamental issues will remain.