Gordon Strachan has revealed that Peter Lawwell rejected the chance to take over as chief executive at Arsenal.
Strachan, who was the Parkhead manager when the Premier League giants tried to lure Lawwell in 2008, urged the long-standing Hoops CEO to jump at the chance of running one of richest clubs in the world.
But he explained how Lawwell turned down Arsenal because of his love for and affiliation to Celtic.
Strachan told the Scottish Sun: “I know the owner and chief executive very well – they are fans. In 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.”
OPINION
As the long-standing Celtic transfer and contract negotiator, Lawwell is often the target for fans who claim he is too cautious and does not have the ambition to take the club to the next level. But Strachan’s revelation sheds lights on what Celtic means to the 59-year-old, who has been in control of the day-to-day running of the Scottish giants since 2003. The Scot, an accountant by trade, joined the club for a second time at that point after a previous spell as their financial controller. Green-and-white blood courses through the veins of Lawwell, and supporters will appreciate his loyalty at a time when Brendan Rodgers has been fiercely criticised for walking out on a third consecutive treble with three months of the season remaining. Lawwell could certainly have got a big pay rise, and even more prestige, had he joined Arsenal, a historic and great European club. Rodgers showed no loyalty or class, but at least the CEO has some.