Respected financial expert Kieran Maguire believes Celtic must take executive action in a bid to stop Rangers becoming Scottish football's dominant force on and off the pitch.
Steven Gerrard's side are closing in on a first Premiership title in a decade and will get a crack at Champions League qualifying through the champions playoff route next season.
Celtic will also earn a chance to reach Europe's top table but face a fight to make the group stage as they take on big-hitters in the treacherous non-champions route. Failure to reach the tournament proper would make it four consecutive years coming up short.
The Hoops announced a £5.9million loss for the half year up to December 31 on Monday as chairman Ian Bankier lamented the ongoing effects of the ongoing pandemic, although the club still has £20m in the bank.
Many have predicted principal shareholder Dermot Desmond will be ready to respond to Rangers' upturn and former chairman Dave King's "pack of cards" boast if his side were able deny their rivals 10 In A Row.
And the owner of the revered Price of Football website believes the Irishman must show his hand if they are to stop Gerrard's team in the coming seasons.
Speaking to Football Insider, Maguire said: “I think Peter Lawwell’s period in office at Celtic will be tarnished as a result of what’s happened over the last six to nine months.
“He did deliver trophies, he did delivered getting the Champions League group stage which is of course very lucrative. But I suspect a lot of that will be forgotten.
“I think the main thing is he will be seen as a change and that will be welcomed by a significant number of fans.
“But unless Celtic can get either Desmond to put more money in or they can find money from alternative sources, they are in danger of losing their top-dog status in terms of being the club that generates the most money in Scottish football."
