Celtic lose fourth game under Nancy after chair Peter Lawwell stands down citing ‘abuse’

• New manager’s nightmare continues at Tannadice

• Lawwell to leave club as Nicholson hits out at ‘assaults’

Celtic’s chair, Peter Lawwell, has announced he is to stand down, citing “intolerable” treatment from a section of the club’s support, with the club’s chief executive, Michael Nicholson, revealing that three of their colleagues were “assaulted” after the Scottish League Cup final defeat by St Mirren on Sunday.

Lawwell’s exit will intensify a sense of crisis around the Scottish champions. Sunday’s final marked a third loss in succession for the new manager, Wilfried Nancy. Three became four defeats on Wednesday night when Celtic lost 2-1 at Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership.