Celtic chiefs dropped a telling Ange Postecoglou reference as Mark Lawwell resigned from the club.

A short Celtic statement confirmed head of recruitment Lawwell - son of chairman Peter - will leave the club after a period of gardening leave.

First team scout Joe Dudgeon also resigned from his Parkhead post with official confirmation released on the Celtic website on Friday afternoon.

And the statement referenced former Celtic boss Postecoglou when discussing Lawwell's pending departure.

A telling line stated Lawwell was recruited from City Football Group by then manager Postecoglou.

It's understood Lawwell worked closely alongside Postecoglou with the pair having prior interaction when the now Tottenham boss was at City Group club Yokohama F Marinos in Japan.

Postecoglou said at the time of Lawwell's appointment to the high-ranking Parkhead role: “I was very keen for Mark to join the club and clearly I am delighted that he has accepted this important role and that we have been able to bring him to Celtic.

“Mark is someone who I worked closely with throughout my four years at Marinos and we developed great trust and an excellent working relationship.”

READ MORE: Mark Lawwell resigns from Celtic as second talent-spotter also departs

The short club correspondence also included one-line quotes from Brendan Rodgers and chief executive Michael Nicholson on Lawwell and Dudgeon and their future exits. 

The Celtic statement read: "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.”