Lawwell on shortlist for vacant chief executive role

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell is high on the shortlist to fill the vacant role at a Premier League club.

Sunderland are without a chief executive since Margaret Byrne stepped down following her handling of key evidence in Adam Johnson’s court case.

Lawwell has been at the club since 2003 and guided Celtic to financial stability for over a decade whilst their former rivals were liquidated.

According to the Daily Mail, the Hoops chief executive is one of a number of people being targeted for the role south of the border.

Although the 56-year-old is thought to be penny-pinching at Paradise, he has successfully kept the club from financial turmoil and seen them qualify for the last-16 of the Champions League on three occasions – a rarity given the financial superiority outside of Scotland these days.

He is regarded highly amongst his peers given his status as an SFA and European Club Association’s Executive Board member.

Rumours were rife amongst the Celtic support at the weekend of Lawwell’s whereabouts, sighting a visit to Sunderland.

The club are currently in the Premier League and the possibility of the Black Cats being relegated this season will certainly play a role in who they can attract to take on the vacant role.

For Celtic, it could release the shackles and result in more spending, or it could be a case of you never know what you’ve got until it’s gone.