Lawwell deserves legitimate criticism...but not sinister intimidation that forces a club servant to walk away

WHEN an element of a club's support become an affront to decency it should be a cause for alarm, regret and, above all, shame.

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The first radio caller on Wednesday night to address the subject of Celtic chairman Peter Lawwell's resignation, effective New Year's Eve, said the club had a "prissy" board.

And in response to Lawwell's admission that he was leaving because personal abuse and intimidation had reached "intolerable" levels for him and his family, the caller said, "tough luck".

The year about to end has represented a gradual, but undeniable, decline in everything associated with the team on the park for Celtic.

And the disintegration of the relationship between hardcore fans and the club off the park.

The worst part is that some fans are tolerant, and actually supportive of, antisocial behaviour on a scale which has forced Celtic to enlist the help of Police Scotland.