Burley’s u-turn to praise Fergus McCann
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: “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.