Fergus McCann has been given praise from the most unlikely of sources- Craig Burley.
During their time together at Celtic Park compliments were rarely flowing between the boardroom and dressing room with disputes the order of the day.
Jock Brown’s controversial role as General Manager was often at the heart of the matter with Burley seen as one of the ringleaders of dressing room unrest.
In August 1998 the rift between the players and the new management team of Jo Venglos and Eric Black came to a head as Celtic attempted to reach the Champions League for the first time.
For years Celtic fans had been treated to wonderful stories about how Dave Murray and Dick Gough would agree to awesome bonus payments for reaching the Champions League with the new champions wanting a share of the action.
While Murray gambled with loans from the bank McCann was working with his own cash and in no mood to roll over to player power for the sake of a couple of fawning headlines.
Recalling his battles with McCann in the Daily Record Burley said:Â “That was mainly down to the departure of title-winning coach Jansen and McCann was embroiled in another row just weeks later when the players found out the bonus for reaching the Champions League was a fraction of what David Murray was paying his lot.
“Mutiny. McCann was asked to a meeting with all the players and staff and reluctantly agreed to meet us.
“I remember Brown with a sly grin on his face as Fergus entered the room – he knew there was only one outcome.
“As the senior players argued their case McCann batted it back like an Andy Murray forearm. He knew the going rate and it wasn’t what they were paying at Ibrox. Voices were raised and Fergus scuttled off like a squirrel up a tree – the wee man didn’t like confrontation and didn’t need it either.
“McCann would sit in his office like a general in the army.
“There was no need to get his hands dirty on these trivial matters with the playing department. He shuffled all the pieces around until he had Celtic heading in the direction he had promised five years earlier, nothing more nothing less.
“McCann showed steel and integrity as he used his foresight and common sense to steer Celtic through turbulent times. That’s something Rangers and their board need to learn fast.”
Reading Burley singing his praises, hoping that Walter Smith will turn out to be the ‘Blue McCann’ after false starts under Craig Whyte and Charles Green, will no doubt give the former Celtic chairman the wryest of smiles.
God bless Fergus McCann.
Celtic football clubs saviour in their time of need!
I would love to see Fergus unfurl the championship flag at Celtic Park once again for ALL to cheer .
The man was proven right with the death of Rangers FC…
He Told everyone that it would happen .
We all owe this man gratitude for his dream being put into reality.
If it weren’t for Fergus.. We would have been the club that died.
Fergus was a one off,sevco needs to open up be honest etc too many lies still being told ,still cheating walter has all this to sort but the sting in the tail could be walt,ally and backroom staff pumped if this doesn’t work
What can you say about Fergus McCann. He saved Celtic and I remember well who his detractors were .Some of them still have internet sites .Burley was and is anti Celtic. He hails from East Ayrshire .
He and his uncle George were from Cumnock a staunch Oldco Rangers town, where they march in July every year He was never more than a journeyman at Celtic .What Celtic did for him with his obvious anti Celtic bias was paved the way up for a TV pundit job.
He has quickly forgotten why he got the job in the first place .Just like the other loser ex Celtic Players.
The resistance is strong in East Ayrshire my friend! Hail the bunnet;)
Edward c,mon dont faff about name and shame? I know the x-players. Who are the internet guys ,cos I,d like to give them a talking to and hear their response.
Fergus never ‘scuttled like a squirrel up a tree’ from anyone in a business meeting in his life.
Waking out the room with dignity and integrity leaving behind a meally moothed moron shouting and bawling like the cretinous gobshite he is, would be another matter entirely.
F€¢£^ ejit!
the tooth less wonder is still name droping thank f*** espn are on the way out.and if bt take on that gimp as a pundit i’ll bhoycott them too.
That gobshite Burley shouldn’t be allowed to mention Fergus’s name.
Fergus McCann will always be remembered as a true Celtic legend.
Burley is a total irrelevance who uses his time with Celtic to attack our great club.
fergus came from kilsyth next door to croy a mining village that where he was moulded the old saying in croy was dont mess with a croy man no one did stand up for the bunnet
Fergus McCann?? I kent his faither !! ….no! seriously! in an attempt to denigrate “the bunnet” the sycophantic (to the blue brigade!) Scottish tabloids continually referred to Fergus as “Canadian.” His father Mr. Alan McCann was my headmaster at St. Modan’s high.
I never met Fergus, but very Friday I served Mass in the Assembly hall, and his father, the “Heidie” Mr McCann assisted me!
At Celtic Park, Fergus had to deal with selfish egotists who sought only their own short term personal gains, and those egotists weren’t confined to the dressing room! The “fans” who booed him that day should hang their heads in shame for falling for the lies and propoganda spewed out by the Sir- Minty- bum- kissing tabloids.
Drop the booing crap your doing that mobs work.There were plenty of others who did not boo I certainly did not……Not making excuses but was there not another big fat sweaty git there who was a pure ratbag.Lots of people didn,t fancy him.The MSM always refer back to that unfortunate incident …..Celtic man in my opinion ought not to GBNL.yours in Celtic TC.
ALL HAIL FERGUS McCann “THE MAN”
FERGUS IS THE MAN-HE SAVED GLASGOW CELTIC. HAIL HAIL.