How should Fergus McCann be recognised at Celtic Park?
Jimmy Johnstone, Celtic’s greatest ever player and rightly commemorated at the stadium, Jock Stein, our greatest ever manger marking the clubs European Cup win in Lisbon. Lastly, but by no means least our clubs founder Brother Walfrid.
Walfrid’s great work almost came undone in the 1990’s when our club was faced with closure. Our saviour then was a man called Fergus McCann. Who can forget the back page images of the undertaker and his hearse at the front doors of Celtic Park and the Daily Records customary cracked Celtic crest.
Is it not time the club showed some thanks to Fergus by some sort of permanent fixture at Celtic Park? Fergus was a saviour to Celtic. Despite the unpopular sacking of Tommy Burns in 1997 and his part in the whole Wim Jansen fiasco a year later, siding with Jock Brown in a dispute with the man that stopped 10-in-a-row.
Many people will remember Fergus for what he didn’t do. Like offer improved deals to Pierre Van Hooijdonk, Paolo Di Canio or Jorge Cadete. But Fergus’ better judgement was proved. Pierre tried the same old trick at Nottingham Forest, Paolo did the same at Sheffield Wednesday and Cadete done it everywhere he went (except Partick Thistle of course).
Perhaps the thing the supporters didn’t like was the fact that we were constantly out bid in the transfer market by our irritable neighbours. But he did break Celtic’s transfer record three times. Firstly with Phil O’Donnell then Andreas Thom and followed by Alan Stubbs. While Rangers were spending £4m on people like Duncan Ferguson, I’m sure wee Fergus had a snigger to himself as Craig Whyte pushed through his £1 purchase of that club.
But lets remember what he did do. Saved our clubs from the brink of bankruptcy and provided us with a 60,000 seated stadium. He’s even helped shape the clubs financial security we are in today. Yes, he made alot of money from his spell at Celtic but he invested alot of his own money.
He even ousted Jim Farry from his position in the SFA. Despite the typical resistance we’ve become accustom to and their attempts to sweep it under the carpet depite all evidence proving that Farry held up Cadete’s registration so he couldn’t play against Rangers. The supporters were equally to thank for their part in numerous share issues. I for one will never forget sitting up watching TV late when the announcement was made that Fergus had saved our club.
I think it’s time the club commemorated this man permanently at Celtic Park. Be it by way of a plaque on the front door or renaming the South Stand the Fergus McCann stand. Surely some measure should be taken to have a permanent fixture to thank this man for the work he done in saving our great club.
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