Peter Lawwell: Future is bright at Parkhead

[ian1964 10,720]

Peter Lawwell today predicted Celtic would emerge from their current troubled times to a bright future.

 

The Parkhead clubâ��s chief executive is acutely aware of the discontent of a support which has watched Tony Mowbrayâ��s rebuilt squad fall 10 points behind debt-ridden Rangers in the title race, which almost certainly brings with it a �£10million ticket to next seasonâ��s Champions League.

 

Celtic�s turnover for the first half of this campaign is down by almost 23 per cent as a result of failing to qualify for the competition this season.

 

And chairman Dr John Reid had warned that, if income is not there, then that inevit-ably has an impact on the ability to invest as much as they would like in players.

 

However, Lawwell is confident the clubââ?¬â?¢s financial strategy and plan to find raw talent which they can develop into Champions League-quality players will pay off. So, while the going may be tough at the moment, he believes better times are on the horizon. Lawwell said: ââ?¬Å?I believe we have a bright future. Weââ?¬â?¢ve managed our resources well. We are stable.

 

ââ?¬Å?We have strategies in place for further development of the club.

 

ââ?¬Å?This is a club that will keep growing and we will see the fruits of some of our strategies two or three years down the line.

 

ââ?¬Å?The financial figures gives us elbow room to support the manager. Every manager needs resources and the financial statement shows we have leeway to support him.

 

ââ?¬Å?There aspects of this that are part of a long-term strategy. We will see the returns from that in the next few years.ââ?¬Â

 

However, Lawwell knows the fans want immediate results, especially on the field.

 

He continues to reject any suggestion the directors are more interested in balancing books than winning trophies.

 

Crucially, the club did not succeed in bringing in at least one more experienced central defender after Gary Caldwell and Stephen McManus left, but Lawwell said: ââ?¬Å?We traded well in January.

 

ââ?¬Å?Weââ?¬â?¢re in a period of transition and we have to rebuild. We invested heavily in the summer, too. We have a financial strategy that is working and allows us to support the manager in his rebuilding plans.

 

ââ?¬Å?Weââ?¬â?¢ve brought in real quality, and still we get criticised.ââ?¬Â

 

Robbie Keane was the big-name arrival in the last window, and Lawwell shot down reports this loan signing is being financed by major shareholder, Dermot Desmond.

 

ââ?¬Å?Yes, Dermot Desmond, and the rest of the board supported that acquisition, but the wages are being financed from the club,ââ?¬Â he said.

 

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/editor-s-picks-ignore/peter-lawwell-future-is-bright-at-parkhead-1.1006915

[ian1964 10,720]

Aye,ok Mr Liewell,it's obvious Rangers FC are doing really good on the pitch at least,PR switches into overdrive,just you bang on and in the mean time we at Rangers FC feel ALL your pain