PETER LAWWELL is a divisive figure among the Celtic support. Many believe the chief executive has stifled progress at times when we should have strengthened; others believe he has been keeping Celtic running well over the years as we go for ten in a row.

There was no doubt two weeks ago before Brendan Rodgers left that most Celtic fans would have backed Rodgers over Lawwell in most disputes about the club. Two weeks later and it’s a different story, the man CLAIMING to be a Celtic fan cut and run for a mid table Premier League club and hasn’t looked back.

Compare and contrast Peter Lawwell, he may not always make the popular decisions and he might be getting paid a truckload of money to do it but when the Premier League came calling for him back when Gordon Strachan was in charge, the Chief Executive turned the London club down.

“I know the owner and chief executive very well – they ARE fans. They are fans.” Strachan told SunSport.

“As a matter of fact, one of them, Peter Lawwell, was asked to be chief exec of Arsenal when I was still there.

“He said to me, ‘What do you think I should do?’

“I said, ‘Do you want me to drive you down?’ because it’s a huge club and the league is magnificent.

“He phoned me back and went, ‘Oh I’m a Celtic man, Gordon. I can’t really go.’

“There’s somebody that’s turned down a big deal.”

Strachan obviously commenting on Rodgers leaving by saying some people can resist the lure of the EPL if they are genuine fans of the club.

Peter Lawwell had to think on his feet over a week ago when Rodgers dropped the bombshell he was leaving and quickly got Neil Lennon in to oversee the side until the end of the season.

The Chief Executive now has the task of picking a full time manager come the summer.