Chris Sutton reckons Mark Lawwell's Celtic exit points to an answer to the club's January transfer window blame game.

Parkhead chief Peter Lawwell had admitted his frustrations over a slow transfer window with just Nicolas Kuhn and Adam Idah joining the club.

And Sutton reckons the questions looming over the lack of business have been answered through Lawwell Jr's resignation from the club.

The talent-spotter is on gardening leave from his high-ranking head of recruitment role with scout Joe Dudgeon also departing the club having handed in his notice.

For Sutton, Lawwell has "fallen on his sword" at Celtic despite wording that he would pursue fresh challenges in the club's official statement on the matter.

Sutton told the Daily Record: “There were questions over who was to blame for January – and the window last summer. Now it looks like we have the answer. 

"Celtic might say Mark Lawwell is leaving to pursue other opportunities but it looks like he’s fallen on his sword.

"There was an inevitability about this after Peter Lawwell’s statement in the interim accounts. The chairman said the clubs shared the frustration about the lack of signings in the window when Brendan Rodgers had said he needed four quality recruits.

"The big question was why – and who was to blame? I think we now know."

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A Celtic club statement confirmed: "Celtic Football Club today announced that Mark Lawwell, Head of First Team Scouting and Recruitment, and Joe Dudgeon, Lead First Team Scout, have resigned from their positions and are leaving the Club to pursue fresh challenges.   

"Mark was recruited to the Club by then manager, Ange Postecoglou, in May 2022 from his position as Head of CFG Scouting and Recruitment, within City Football Group’s global structure.  

"Joe joined from City Football Group in November 2022. Mark and Joe will be on a period of gardening leave."

Manager Brendan Rodgers said:  “As part of the Club’s recruitment team, Mark and Joe have worked tirelessly to bring success to Celtic, and I would like to wish them both the very best for the future.”

And chief executive Michael Nicholson added: “Everyone at Celtic thanks Mark and Joe for their contribution and dedication to the club, and we wish them both every success moving forward.”