Brendan Rodgers has told Scottish football that they should welcome the leadership that Peter Lawwell, the club’s chief executive, imparts to the game as a whole.

The 43-year-old was speaking in response to comments which appeared from former St Mirren chairman Stewart Gilmour on a BBC radio programme when he claimed that Lawwell was responsible for the running of Scottish football.

“He should be glad, eh?” said Rodgers. “My experience of Peter is he’s a wonderful ambassador not just for Celtic but for Scottish football. He should be glad if he is because I believe if Celtic does well everyone else does well.

“Celtic are a club that are not just representing ourselves but Scotland. And Peter for me, in terms of the operation of Celtic, over how many years he’s ran it very well. That’s why the club is in such a stable position, such a good position. That’s leadership.

“That leadership has given him a profile in Europe with other top presidents and directors. That’s through his behaviour and the quality of leadership in his work. I think he does a great job and he represents Scotland very well.”

Rodgers is still looking to bring in new faces to Celtic – but is relatively relaxed as he looks to make the most of the remaining days of the current transfer window.

So far the club have brought in 19-year-old Ivorian Kouassi Eboue but in an ideal world Rodgers would have more players bedded in before the treacherous Champions League qualifiers this summer.

"If we can get the right players, we will try,” said the Hoops boss. “We have identified some and if they come in, great. If they don't, I still have a strong squad that will improve over the course of the second part of the season. But it would be nice to bring some freshness into the squad.”

One player who has committed his future to Celtic is Mikael Lustig. The 30-year-old signed a two-year extension to his deal this week with Rodgers pleased to keep the right-back.

"I came in here and everyone talked about him being injury prone and what not,” he said. "He has virtually trained every day and has played in most of our games. He is a real leader in the dressing-room.

"I sat and spoke to him a few months back and told him I wanted him to stay. Mika is very much part of what we are doing here. He is a multi-functional player. He can play right-back and centre-half, and is a top international player. I am delighted he is staying.”

Meanwhile, Rodgers has also insisted that on paper Celtic’s challenge if far more difficult that it may appear. Charlie Nicholas stated this week he did not expect to see Rangers challenge Celtic again in his lifetime while former Hoops midfielder Stiliyan Petrov expects the Parkhead side to win back-to-back trebles.

“It is not easy as that,” said the Hoops boss. “I respect these guys, Charlie was a wonderful player and has done great down south in his work. Stiliyan Petrov is a great guy and a legend here at the club so I respect all of that but when you are in it in first position and working it, it is never as easy as that.”