Lawwell rejects Celtic exit talk

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell has told BBC sources he has no intention of leaving the club - despite speculation linking him with Arsenal.

Lawwell, 49, said he wanted to stay with Celtic as he still had ambitions for the club.

"Peter is a valuable and highly-valued part of Celtic Football Club and remains so," chairman John Reid told the club's website.

Lawwell succeeded Ian McLeod in September 2003.

Reid said Lawwell had an important role at the club, adding: "Peter will continue to work with everyone at Celtic to ensure the club enjoys even more success and maintains its pre-eminent position within Scottish football."

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Lawwell has overseen a successful period at the Glasgow club, reducing debt by £31m over the last five years and luring Gordon Strachan for the manager's job.

Under Strachan's leadership, Celtic have won three consecutive league championships and progressed to the last 16 of the Champions League two years in a row.

Following a spell as chief executive of Scottish Coal, Lawwell was commercial director with ports and property company Clydeport in 2000.

He spent a spell as financial controller of Celtic in 1990 before returning for his second spell at the club 13 years later.

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