Peter Lawwell WILL crack Celtic transfer kitty open as Brendan Rodgers makes spending admission

Peter Lawwell is adamant Hoops chiefs are not hoarding cash – and they share fan frustration at failing to splash out in January.

The Parkhead club announced bumper mid-season financial results with revenues up to £85m and £67m in the club’s coffers. Lawwell revealed Celts had spent £23m since last summer amid major investment in the new Barrowfield training complex and the first team’s Lennoxtown HQ. But the chairman admitted the winter transfer window wasn’t up to scratch with just £3m recruit Nicolas Kuhn and loan signing Adam Idah landing and big targets slipping through the net.

Lawwell insisted Celtic WILL crack open the kitty and he said: “The board recognises the inherent inefficiencies of holding excess cash, and, in conjunction with other cash commitments, the importance of investing in strengthening the team to deliver football success. The board shares the frustrations of the supporters regarding the less than anticipated activity in the recent transfer window.

“Since the opening of the transfer window in June, we have committed £23.9m in player investment. Within this we renewed and extended the contracts of Cameron Carter-Vickers, Liel Abada, Matt O’Riley, Anthony Ralston and Reo Hatate.

“The board’s commitment is to strengthen and improve the playing squad in every transfer window and although resources were available, we were unable to further add to the squad due to the unavailability of identified targets.

“This was disappointing to us all, and never the intention. The January transfer window is notoriously difficult as clubs are very reluctant to let their best players go at such a crucial time of the season just as we are. Indeed, we resisted strong interest in our players from other clubs.”

Celtic