Before we all lose the plot, we should examine things to determine if a pattern is developing. I truly believe that Lawwell let Brendan down during the summer. Posturing on the part of Lawwell has made the job of the manager much more difficult (at least in the short term). However, in terms of the relationship between these two particular men, this is an event not a pattern. While I fully accept that Lawwel has played a similar hand in the past with ex-managers, I doubt that he will pull such a stunt again with Brendan during the Winter Transfer Window. The backlash that the Celtic Board would suffer should Brendan Rodgers walk out the door would be so strong that it may take a decade or more to recover.
Lawwell might surprise me and try to play the big man, but he would be signing his own P45..... and other clubs would be clued in to the fact so his intransigence and unwillingness to plainly see the obvious would severely damage his reputation. C-level executives make the big decisions, but they do so with the benefit of information provided by others in the organization. If a C-level executive plays a bad hand because of sheer bloody-mindedness they should not be around long enough to try it twice! I believe Lawwell is smart enough to know what is good for him and his long-term relationship with the club.