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In a bombshell revelation from his new tell-all autobiography, former Rangers owner Sir David Murray has launched a scathing attack on Celtic chairman Peter Lawwell, accusing him of playing a major role in Rangers’ financial downfall and attempting to “bury” the club during their most vulnerable period.
Murray, who presided over Rangers during both triumph and turmoil, paints a damning picture of Lawwell’s influence behind the scenes in Scottish football. He claims the long-time Celtic executive—who transitioned from CEO to chairman—strategically consolidated power and used it to hinder Rangers during their financial crisis and eventual descent into administration.
According to Murray, the two once shared a cordial relationship. He recalls inviting Lawwell and his wife to Ibrox for a game during the days when both were involved in different industries—Lawwell then working at Scottish Coal and Murray through GM Mining. But things changed dramatically as Lawwell climbed the ranks at Celtic.
“By the time he became chief executive at Parkhead,” Murray writes, “he was on a very different path. For nearly 20 years, he built up significant influence and, in my opinion, was enjoying Rangers’ collapse after I sold the club. He was deeply involved in football’s key decision-making circles, surrounded by allies, and he used that clout to Rangers’ detriment.”
While acknowledging Lawwell’s effectiveness in advancing Celtic’s interests, Murray argues that there was a calculated effort to suppress Rangers during a time when they lacked strong representation in football governance:
> “To me, it seemed the mantra was, ‘Let’s bury Rangers.’”
In one particularly personal anecdote, Murray reveals that Hollywood icon Sir Sean Connery—best known as James Bond and a close friend—invested £1 million in Rangers during a 2004 share issue, a fact previously unknown to the public. Despite Murray warning him of the risks, Connery was eager to contribute. “Needless to say, he never got his money back,” Murray writes, “but he understood—football is a risky business.”
Murray also reflects on the impact of Rangers’ collapse on club legend Ally McCoist. He believes the chaos off the pitch denied McCoist the chance to prove himself as a truly great manager. As administration and liquidation took their toll, McCoist remained at the helm, steering Rangers through the lower leagues despite a hostile environment under the Mike Ashley-backed regime.
“Ally never got a fair shot. He was the glue that held the club together during the worst period in our history,” Murray writes. “We’ll never know how far he could’ve gone in management under better circumstances—but I’m glad he’s gone on to build a brilliant media career.”
Murray’s explosive memoir sheds new light on some of the most turbulent chapters in Scottish football, rekindling debate over Lawwell’s role, Rangers’ collapse, and the long shadow cast by off-field power struggles in the Old Firm rivalry.
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