Sky Sports commentator Davie Provan has not pulled any punches when it comes to the future of chief executive Peter Lawwell.

Celtic were in the Champions League knockout rounds twelve years ago under Gordan Strachan but the Scottish champions have struggled to qualify for the group stages in recent years, and Provan lays the blame at Lawwell’s door:

“I’d love to get Peter Lawwell’s take on what’s happened since. In particular, how Celtic were bounced out of the Champions League by Legia Warsaw, Maribor, Malmo, AEK Athens, Cluj and Ferencvaros. Yeah, I know Legia were booted out on a technicality but they beat Celtic 6-1 over two games. That’s Legia Warsaw!”

“The Celtic board has chucked it in Europe. But they’ll get off the hook if the club wins The Ten. Question is, do they believe Lennon can still deliver it? I could be wrong in assuming it’ll be the board’s call. Lennon has said he’ll know when his time is up. If he feels he can’t squeeze any more from his players he could walk. If he does, Mr Lawwell should follow him.”

It’s a stinging rebuke from the former Celtic player turned pundit who has become an outspoken critic of the club in recent years. Undoubtedly there has been a steady decline in terms of performances in the Champions League. The teams that Provan lists as having beaten the Hoops certainly doesn’t show the club in a good light.

Of course, the focus is currently on winning ten league titles in a row, so concerns regarding the Champions League will take a back seat, but as has been pointed out, even if Lennon were to leave, there are a number of other issues which are making it hard for the club to compete at the highest level.