Fergus McCann should be invited to unfurl the league flag in the summer

Sorry Fergus didn't know you still cared

 

Sean

Do you mind if I ask what books those are?

Well perhaps my interpretation of Bhoy Against Bigotry is different to yours. Upon releasing it, McCann said

"Celtic has a greatly diversified supporter profile in terms of age, *, religion and political background and it is the club's responsibility to aim to create a positive and acceptable environment for all supporters. The image of the club is very important and, regrettably, in some areas - and not just in Scotland - the club is perceived wrongly to harbour support of a sectarian divide. It is an accepted aim, via the club's PR strategy 'to maximise all opportunities to disassociate the club from sectarianism and bigotry of any kind. To promote as a club for all people, regardless of *, age, religion, race or ability"

I can't say that I disagree with anything he says there. In all areas, he wanted to transform the club into a creditable and modern institution and I think that promoting the club as an all inclusive one - as we've always been - was the correct implementation. As a staunch catholic himself, McCann wasn't having an attack at the club's origins or the Irish community within our support, he just wanted to eradicate a culture among a minority that wanted to acclaim the provisional IRA instead of the club itself and it's original roots.

 

The Official Biography of Celtic : If You Know the History by Graham McColl is one of them. The others name escapes me at the moment, I would have to dig it out of the attic.

What bigotry and sectarianism were we indulging in that needed Bhoys against Bigotry?

 

Songs, that aren't sung as much now to be fair, like Roamin in the Gloamin and 'On the One Road' when some would change the lyrics to 'North men, South men, comrades all - soon there'll be no Protestants at all' and while not necessarily sectarian, glorifying the provisional IRA. I'm sure there are other examples, however I was only a child when McCann released Bhoys Against Bigotry. Look I don't agree that we've ever had a serious bigotry problem but I think McCann just wanted us to at least address it for the reasons of wanting to be all inclusive, modern, professional etc.

 

I'd be all in favour of Fergus unveiling the flag. I can understand the level of emotion felt by some of the older Bhoys but imo I think it's just bitter to still hold resentment of him after all these years.

Look at how much we've laughed at the death of our rivals these last 12 months or so, he basically stopped that from happening to us and deserves respect for that.

 

Are they not using your * as the flagpole?

 

Naw - I think Momo Sylla should be invited to unfurl the flag

A legend like him deserves that kind of award

 

Especially after that belter he scored against Basel

 

I'm not bitter any more, I would love for him to unveil the league flag.

 

http://www.thecelticwiki.com/page/Fergus+McCann

People can say what they like about him, and I'm sure a lot of fans who did boo him wouldn't have if they knew then what they did now. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

I don't agree with the way he went about everything, but he came in and rescued us when we almost died. Aye he was a businessman but he was minted before he even took the club over anyway so I'm sure if he had no interest in Celtic he wouldn't have taken control. He stood up to that wee fucktard Jim Farry and the rest of the SFA, spoke his mind, put us on the stock market which enabled fans to buy shares into the club (making it the most successful share issue for a football club at the time) resulting in being able to rebuild the stadium, and gave us a sure financial footing for the future.

He came in with a "5 year plan" and stuck to it. He was viewed as having a "tight purse strings" attitude when it came to players, but I think this was the right attitude to have as it was more important at the time to be financially steady rather than splash the cash on players. Look what has happened to a certain other club from the other side of the city because they were too focused on splashing the cash. We are strong and stable and they are, well, deid :icon_mrgreen:

I'll always be forever grateful towards him for saving our great club.

 

We disagree on the Provos songs but I agree with the other ones you mentioned, to be fair we were always going to head that way anyway, we self policed ourselves quite well in that respect.

 

Absolutely

We should be eternally grateful to Momo

 

it would be a great idea but i don't think he would do it to be honest he keeps himself to himself anyway.

 

I remember at the time there were Celtic fans who had fallen out of love with Fergus McCann because they felt he didn't spend enough money in the transfer market. They also did not like his stance on the singing of certain songs at Celtic matches.

Seems to me we are in pretty much the same position now with Peter Lawwell. Peter Lawwell has done a fantastic job of stabilising the club's financial position but there's certainly a section of the Celtic support who don't have much time for him. The main reasons being he doesn't loosen the purse strings enough and his attitude towards the Green Brigade.

The more things change the more they stay the same.

 

I do see some aspects of Fergus McCann in Peter Lawwell, good point mate.

As for penny pinching, there's certainly an element of truth in that however when you take into account 21st century transfer fees, wages and inflation, McCann wasn't so bad afterall:

1994/95:
Phil O'Donnell £1.75m
Andy Walker £0.6m
Tosh McKinlay £0.35m
Pierre Van Hooijdonk £1.5m
= £4.2m

1995/96:
Andreas Thom £2.2m
Jackie McNamara £0.6m
Morten Wieghorst £0.6m
John Hughes £0.3m
Jorge Cadete Free
= £3.7m

1996/97:
Alan Stubbs £3.5m
Tommy Johnson £2.3m
Paolo di Canio £1.5m
David Hannah £0.7m
Enrico Annoni £0.3m
= £8.3m

1997/98:
Craig Burley £2.4m
Harald Brattbakk £2.25m
Paul Lambert £2.0m
Marc Riper £1.5m
Darren Jackson £1.2m
Henrik Larsson £0.65m
Stephane Mahe £0.5m
Jonathan Gould Free
Regi Blinker Swap
= £10.5m

1998/99:
Mark Viduka £3.0m
Johan Mjallby £1.5m
Vidar Riseth £1.5m
Lubo Moravcik £0.3m
Scott Marshall Loan
= £6.3m

£33million spent in 5 seasons is actually pretty decent. I doubt we'll look back from 2010-2015, hopefully with Lennon in charge throughout this time, and see that the gaffer was given £33million to spend.

 

Very good point

 

You have forgot to put in the money brought in from selling players,and putting Regi Blinker down as a * swap is a joke tbh

 

To be Frank ,Wee Fergus did it his way ,Regrets well he had a few but then again to few to mention, he did what he had to do and saw it through without exemption
He planned each charted course, each careful step along the byway
And more, much more than this, he did it his way .

 

The deal to swap di Canio for Blinker was a big mistake but the Italian very much made his own bed to lie in. Considering what we now know about the proud fascist, it's not too suprising.