17 Jan 2014 13:05:02
With 20 years now past since Fergus McCann took over at Celtic and set the strong financial foundations for the Club to grow, I've seen chat of Fergus to be honoured eg. a Stand named after him.

I was just wondering everyone else's thoughts on this and should he be honoured in a big way this year?

1.) 17 Jan 2014
100% agree Mrs E, in fact, i'm a bit surprised it hasn't been done by now.

{Ed007's Note - Fergus McCann has repeatedly made it clear he would not be party to any recognition through naming a stand after him or suchlike. It wouldn't be right to do it without his consent.}

2.) 17 Jan 2014
I think we all appreciate he’s a very private individual.

It would be good to see him acknowledged in some way particularly as some of our support booed him and indeed still have issues with the ‘PLC’.

The Club of today is the infrastructure Fergus set up and left it with the current owners who he trusted and respected yet some of our support are still moaning. I’m unsure what it is they want (not having a go, I’m just genuinely unsure)

Is it high time they either decided if they want to follow a professional football Club that still to this day carries out charity work or if we have to be run on a solely non profitable basis which means no more Champions League football, not sure.

I think I’m just fed up with this 'divide' in our support when I have absolutely no idea what it is some are really wanting?

3.) 17 Jan 2014
Fergus did a lot of good things but let's not forget he didn't back tommy burns to allow him to stop rangers equalling 9 in a row he also said he would only walk away with a ten percent profit yet walked away with multiple millions, I know this is a fact as he said it himself in a copy of the celtic view that I still have as my nephew was in the same edition and that is why we kept it. Fergus doesn't want any public recognition so I say thanks for what he built and see you later.
Jim

4.) 17 Jan 2014
17 Jan 2014 14:27:57
Whatever he did or didn't do he still saved the club we all love. looking back to the time we booed him was wrong you only have to look to the other side to see what mite have been.

5.) 17 Jan 2014
He did save the club with help from guys like Brian Dempsey in the wings assisting negotiations etc and we have a club today because of him.
He also walked away with a very handsome profit for his investment and has had no apparent interest in Celtic ever since. I prefer to remember those who served the club for decades for little remuneration or riches that we were lucky enough to see represent the club, or we read about in our 126 year history.

JJ

6.) 17 Jan 2014
Just my opinion but I personally think that the wee bunnett is as important to the history of celtic fc as anyone is and deserves to be recognised for his part in our great club but we should also respect his wishes if he does not want any recognition for his service

7.) 17 Jan 2014
17 Jan 2014 16:02:27
He walked away with a healthy profit because he was a good businessman, we all know he wasn't in it for the love of celtic. But without him and whoever helped god knows where wee would be today

8.) 17 Jan 2014
I've been saying the same thing for years Mrs E. It's a bit sad that Fergus doesn't want any recognition as he is one of the most important figures in the club's history. There was murmurings of him being invited over to unfurl the league flag but he made it clear he wouldn't accept any invitation. I really do think it is a sad situation but we need to respect his wishes. What I wouldn't give to have him running the club today though! He appreciated how important the fans were to the club's continuing success. One thing that I do think the fans could get Lawwell and the board to do is to rename Lennoxtown after the late, great Tommy Burns. I know a lot of people have mentioned it and I have spoke to ED007 on Twitter about it in the past but I think if enough fans pushed for it they couldn't refuse them at this point in time. If it was a serious and organised campaign with the way things are between the club and supporters they wouldn't dare refuse, a refusal would not look good in the press either. The Tommy Burns Academy has a lovely ring to it, perhaps the fans could even pay for a statue or a plinth and bust of Tommy to stand and overlook the place. Tommy Burns stood for everything that is good and great about our club, I don't need to tell anyone the type of man he was and if he was to get a fitting memorial I think that would be it for a few years for memorials for anyone connected to the club. We wouldn't want to cheapen the memorials we have by just throwing them up for anyone but with Brother Walfrid, Jock Stein and Wee Jinky representing the Lions, in my opinion it's only McCann and Tommy Burns from our recent history who merit any sort lasting memorial.

9.) 17 Jan 2014
So when as a boy and man before he emigrated to Canada when he climbed on those Celtic supporters buses in croy it wasnt for love of Celtic well what was it for. He is and was a Celtic supporter who was a great buisnessman some seem to resent him for this I for one will never understand this.

10.) 17 Jan 2014
I keep mentioning this every time Mr McCann is discussed. I was there at every home game all through those years. At that time the press HAHA were very efficient at playing the public. These days everyone is much more savvy for many reasons. As such the majority of fans gave Mr McCann a hard time. The reason is simple the establishment hated him and gave him hell and Mr McCann was a victim.
I was telling people to shut up and telling them they were a disgrace when he was booed that day and I can tell you I was in a very small minority and was very unpopular. Not saying this to make out I am anything special just saying how it was and why. The lesson is don't believe the propaganda. Good or bad make your own decisions and do your own research. Sopotcelt.

11.) 17 Jan 2014
17 Jan 2014 17:35:59
Fergus delivered on all that he promised
1. 60,000 all seater stadium
2. Share issue
3. Winning trophies
4. Invest in youth development
5. Leave the club on a secure financial footing

He was feared by the sfa after he put jim farry on the brew for delaying caddettes transfer registration. He was smart not to spend what we did, nt have. ( unlike some ) The booing was uncalled for at the dunfermline flag day. With no new signings to start the new season and no Wim jansen having left due to not being backed in the transfer market. The support were not happy. Looking back I have nothing but admiration for the man

12.) 17 Jan 2014
17 Jan 2014 18:10:11
Ma bad then a didn't no he was a big celtic fan b4 he came, just thought he was a good business man that saved out club.
Must admit a think a booed but a was a young drunken ****** who never really understood. Now am older and look back with regret.

13.) 17 Jan 2014
@3 Was he not here when Di Canio, Cadette and Van Hooidonk were signed, I think he backed Tommy well, remember Jim if it was not for him we would not have the same club, yes Brian Dempsey helped by bringing Fergus to the club but I don't know how much money he put in if any, I can understand Fergus's reaction, maybe he felt dismayed by the booing of Celtic supporter's that day
Tambhoy

14.) 17 Jan 2014
Actually quite glad to see different opinions on the subject.

I find all this current divide very difficult and find a lot of contradictions in what some say particularly on places like twit land.

I respect every poster's opinion on here as I've been using the site for about 2 years and got to know how some of you think lol

But with some other fans on twitter etc no matter how hard I try and look at their arguments, it does not add up in my mind (maybe the issue is me)

1. If you support the Club (as Green Jhedi said the other day) then get behind them - Celtic had one, very near, insolvency period in their whole history and the fans were very vocal but they worked together for the simple reason of saving Celtic. Did the fans want Celtic saved so they could boycott because we don't have a striker, I don't this so.

2. Che raises an excellent point about the renaming of Lennoxtown and honouring Tommy Burns. Why is this not high up on the agenda with organisations such as the Celtic Trust. They have organised an meeting for next week but there is no mention of this, why?

3. With regards the Celtic Trust having a meeting for fans to discuss current 'issues', like what? I did ask the Trust but to say the answer was tripe is putting it mildly!

4. UEFA, the /William Wallace banner and the Club being fined. Maybe the Club should have stood up to UEFA over this and a few of our fans are not happy. How unhappy are they, enough to boycott UEFA competitions? Are they hell, just unhappy enough to boycott Celtic.

5. Any significant period in our history - there is no singing section and no Green Brigade. Most recent significant I would say was Seville, stopping 10 or winning the treble - no Green Brigade. I would love to see this situation resolved maybe have the Green Brigade back however there are faults on both sides here. Celtic were wrong in how they dealt with the aftermath of the Fir Park game and innocent fans were punished. The Green Brigade are also wrong every time the Club's name is brought into disrepute. They have given us some fantastic banners and displays - with the Clubs backing but I do not see anything unreasonable in the Club asking for the banners to not include anything that will see the Club disciplined.

6. I maybe wrong here but seems to me some of our fans are GLAD the attendances are down? Matchday revenue is essential to our Club as is the backing of fans on matchdays for the players, why would any fan actually seem to get off on it that our attendances are down?

Sopot also has a good point that a lot of fans booed Fergus because of what they were reading in the media at the time and the lesson is don't believe the propaganda (I had a good pal who used said this as well, all the time - he was like a broken record).

The problem now is we have these self appointed fan spokespeople who are taking over where the media left off and seem to have their own agenda. I just hope Sopot's right and we can all make up out own minds!

Celtic are not a Club in crisis and still do honour their charitable roots. The Club we have today is based on what Brother Wilfrid set up and the legacy Fergus McCann left behind (which like it or lump it is the PLC)

There are quite a few negatives at the moment but all this with boycotts, just my opinion but I'd seriously question the agenda of some folk.

I've mentioned the greetin auld git that sits in front of me before - his view on the fans boycotting ' aye pick yir f*****g toys and bottom lip up on yir way oot'

I can tell the fans are not as divided as some would have us think anyway, the reaction to being called Millwall fans, s**m and the reaction to the land deal fiasco shows this not to be the case.

Che - you're spot on about Tommy Burns and maybe you should start something off! The Celtic Trust are off my Christmas card list, maybe you should suggest this is raised as part of their agenda next week.

I may have went on a wee bit, bad day in work so I've taken it out on this keyboard.

15.) 17 Jan 2014
Those were great days my friends. The new stands going up. Halting the dark sides march and the excitement electric. It was like CL night every home game at CP. The three amigos running amock. Pierre smacking them in from free kicks.
I remember one winter at CP V a decent Aberdeen side. 0-0 a few minutes of extra time looming. The fog beginning to descend. Free kick. Pierre from about 30 yards. I just knew he would score. The Park silent, Pierre focussed and imperious. The players and stadium transfixed not a sound, then thenrun up, the smack of boot and the roar beginning before the ball was in the air. Postage stamp. 1-0 to the Tick! Pierre there's only one Pierre, there's only one Pierre, booming from the stands. Still in the hunt for the league against TFoD. I remember it like it was yesterday. Happy, happy days. Thank you Tommy, thank you Fergus. Sopotcelt.

16.) 17 Jan 2014
The guy put his own cock and money on the block. He deserved every penny he made from saving Celtic. He was no Charles Green - thank feck!

17.) 17 Jan 2014
I wasn't logged in but no 14 wiz me!

Sopot, I love when it's just all about the football! You can't beat it, magic

18.) 17 Jan 2014
17 Jan 2014 21:12:00
Reading all that post just to see there was kno name at end lol could guess it was you mrs E anyway cracking post a normally get bored when posts are that long but a kept reading yours.

19.) 17 Jan 2014
To tambhoy he did sign the 3 amigos but he didn't fully back tommy burns IMO as our back line was only half finished Marshall, o'neil, Hughes, Mackay and tosh McKinley that is why we lost our record of 9 in a row if he had taken a punt with more depth beside Boyd Stubbs and McNamara who knows where tommy burns might have taken us.
Jim

20.) 17 Jan 2014
@ Monkeybhoy I'm a boring, crabbit git anyway! I don't mind fans not being happy with the way the Club's run etc but boycotts get on my wick. Each to their own I suppose.

@ Jim, we were leaking goals terrible. Going forward, Tommy had it right but too many points dropped with draws! Rangers were also in the middle of a spending spree lol

21.) 17 Jan 2014
Jim,

We didn't lose our record of 9IAR. We set the record and will only lose it when someone else beats it by doing 10IAR Matching a record doesn't count for anything.


TomTheTim

22.) 17 Jan 2014
17 Jan 2014 22:53:37
Mrs E you've just described ma wife and most woman av met lol

23.) 17 Jan 2014
Thats why Tommy had them attacking at every opportunity or even when there wasnt an opportunity!The defense was pure pi**. Tora Tora Tora!
Brian Oneil tripping on his feet to allow Laudrup to score which amongst a few on field cock ups and of course the outright corruption and cheating by officials both on the pitch and off it stopped us winning the league that year. Cadettes registration mentioned earlier. Cadettes perfect goal disallowed for offside V TFoD. Tosh Mck sending off for having the ball smashed off his hand from 3 feet. ( deliberate handball obviously) again V the dark side; their centre back who enjoyed short trousers assaulting players everyweek and never booked. I could go on but they equalled our bona fide 9 in a row which had a lot less to do withMr McCanns investment than their cheating and their establishment corruption. Sopotcelt.

24.) 17 Jan 2014
Great post as usual Mrs E

25.) 17 Jan 2014
Don't think they'll see a Laudrup again! Their 9-in-a-row was the beginning of the end, Celtic's was far from that.

We had a European Cup and Scottish football was strong, Rangers winning the Cup Winners Cup and Kilmarnock in European Semi-final!

26.) 17 Jan 2014
@ eh Monkeybhoy, in my experience I've found men to be a lot worse than woman in the crabbit, moaning stakes!

27.) 18 Jan 2014
In my Hubble opinion for what it's worth. Wee fergus is the greatest celt in my era supporting the club. He set us up for the future in a way that no one else could, he gave us a foundation, and a stadium, a financial platform which no one else could, and asked for nothing else in return, except for a reasonable return on that investment, which he was more than entitled to.Now we have a club a stadia and place among europes elite whilst living within our means. So what I'M saying is respect icons like Jock, Jimmy, Tommy and henrik but respect the bunnets right to give and then take in the manner in which he did. Not a sugar daddy but a saviour. No statute required just thanks
HH

28.) 18 Jan 2014
Mrs E I have to back you up here. My Mrs is an Angel and I am definitely a moaning old git! I hate to admit it but that's the truth. Now I know its hard to believe as I regard myself as Poppins-like. Practically perfect in every way and I am sure she wakes up every morning thinking she has thrown a double six, in fact I tell her so often although as mentioned I can be a little difficult at times. She also says she has 4 kids to look after. what's that about? I can only ever count 3 Sopotcelt.

29.) 18 Jan 2014
18 Jan 2014 10:55:47
Sorry mrs e just playing with ya 😀

30.) 18 Jan 2014
Sopot, I also have 4 kids and one is older than me!

I'm sure your Wife does think she's won a gold watch with you lol Nice to see you do appreciate her though.

I do not know if your seen Soccer AM this morning but on the 3rd eye, 3 men at the football trying to unfold a tartan blanket to keep their knees warm ooooffft hilarious!

31.) 18 Jan 2014
Mrs E According to my own deep extensive objective and non biased research I am in the top 10% of capable men. Unfortunately that still makes me prone to absolute *e**wittery aroond the hoose. Sopotcelt.