Brendan Rodgers’ recruitment comments in Friday’s pre-match press conference ahead of Celtic’s meeting with St Mirren have sparked plenty of debate.
However, former top-flight player and now experienced football agent Allan Preston believes that such criticism is misplaced.
Speaking while assessing the Hoops’ summer business, he stressed that while there is a need for reinforcements, targeting Lawwell is wide of the mark.
Preston, who represented Dundee United, Hearts and St Johnstone during his playing days, shared his opinion on Celtic’s recruitment drive. He made it clear that the current squad could do with extra quality but that the responsibility does not lie with the chairman.
The ex-pro also pointed to the structure in place at Celtic, where recruitment decisions are not dictated from the boardroom but handled by the football department, with the manager ultimately having the final say.
He said: (BBC Sportsound), “I think it’s very strong from Brendan Rodgers. I keep reading all the time, Peter Lawwell’s the problem. Peter’s not the problem, he’s the chairman.
“It’s like Ann Budge picking the players to come into Hearts. It’s not the case. They’ve got the recruitment team, Brendan has the final say. I do believe between now and the window closing that Celtic will have a few additions added on.
“They always say, they’ve got a lot of money, let’s go and spend it. Yeah, that’s fine. You can spend it, but you’ve got to spend it in the right way.
“I look over years gone by, the likes of, Kyogo, Matt O’Reilly, guys like that coming in. Are Celtic as strong now as they were, say, two years ago? I’m not so sure. That may be the thing that Brendan’s possibly going on about.
“I’m sure he’s probably done it in private as well. I’d imagine that Brendan won’t be happy with what’s going on and they’ll want to try and get more players in. They need help, they certainly do. The squad’s another year older. The likes of Callum McGregor, brilliant.
With just weeks left before the window closes, Rodgers’ comments have only heightened the sense of urgency around Celtic’s recruitment. Preston’s view suggests that while money is available, spending wisely is just as important as spending quickly.
The Irishman has previously made it clear he wants more quality in his squad, and the next fortnight could determine how satisfied he will be with his options heading into the busy autumn schedule.
The upcoming Champions League qualifiers, alongside the defence of the league title, will demand depth and experience across all areas of the pitch.
For now, the responsibility falls on the recruitment team to deliver the right profiles to enhance what Rodgers already has. The pressure is not just about signing bodies, but finding players who can make an immediate impact at Celtic Park.
As Preston points out, the club’s structure means Rodgers holds the final say over who comes in. Whether he gets the reinforcements he’s asking for will soon be clear, but the responsibility, according to Preston, does not rest with Peter Lawwell.
