Stevie Mac – “Sometimes I question myself as a Celtic fan. Wondering why I don’t go along with other fans point of view. Fergus made some very unpopular decisions but he made them for the club, not to annoy the fans. At the end of the day he was/is a businessman and stuck to his business plan – to right the club and walk away again. He did that. He hired some people that some of us disagreed with, he cut players when they got demanding, he didn’t bow to every supporters wishes and would retaliate. He was tough but that is business. Because of that, we are where we are. In the future, more unpopular decisions will happen at the club by others. We’ve already seen fans booing John Reid, booing Neil Lennon, booing players, booing Dermot and as always criticising the lack of spending. Yet in all of this, we have survived and gotten stronger in what is a very poor league. This was all instigated by Fergus. I never booed anyone at Celtic in my life. That won’t change. If you do decide to boo, ask yourself why am I booing? Could there be another reason for this unpopular decision other than my own selfish point of view?”
Sean McLaughlin – “Some of these comments are ridiculous. Without him there wouldn’t be a Celtic or Larsson or Lambert the list goes on. I can remember asking my Dad why are people booing and his words were because son some people are morons.”
Colin Stephen – “I wasn’t happy with him for multiple reasons and especially for not signing big when trying to stop them getting 10iar, if we never stopped them doing that I honestly don’t know if I would’ve forgiven him as he was getting plenty of money back at the time from the fans. But looking back to the day we stopped 10iar was probably the greatest day in my life and I agree he does deserve something named after him for saving our club and for choosing to pay the bills instead of doing what RFC have done, for that and building the stadium he deserves enormous credit.”
Stephen Mcmaihin – “I can honestly say yes I booed. Back then I thought he was penny pinching whilst the newco’s oldco were spending like there was no tomorrow. It was only when they went bust last year that I understood why Fergus did what he had to do.”
Brian Booth – “I booed and my reasons were that, just like today, he allowed some of our support to be vilified. Remember the banner: “We’re Irish, we’re Catholic, we’re Celtic fans, but we’re no bigots Mr McCann”………. I’d do it again and again!”
Hugh McGarrigle – “I didn’t boo him and it was because he delivered what he said he would. He put plans in place for a new stadium, he put a team to be proud of on the park and left a legacy that lets us compete in the higher echelons of European competition.”
Continued on the Next Page…
1998
Perhaps you should alter the date on your headline?
At the risk of upsetting someone about religion, I think that when I heard the boos at Fergus in August 1998 (not 1988) I understood a little better the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in that people will want to destroy the thing that saves them! It has to be stressed however that there were more cheers than boos that day. It was though a sad day, almost on a parallel with the day in the Jungle in 1975 when some cretins (again I stress a minority) turned on Paul Wilson (admittedly having a poor game) for the colour of his skin.
All the more reason we should have a statue of the lad in front of the stadium
Such an emotive subject by fergus
I remember like it was yesterday fair play to fergus but the other people involved as well deserve such plaudits.
Our club and foundations and forefathers are Irish and to quote “the rebels have won ” is so ironic and a slap in the face for everyone but especially the people of Ireland and it’s descendants.
29th of June 1998 St Patrick’s v Celtic champions league qualifiers at half time the other end of the main stand our fellow Celtic irish supporters display a banner the size of half the opposite stand We are IRISH mr mcann not Bigots and that says everything completely.
The disgrace that the way Tommy Burns was treated to me it doesn’t resonate with the club I love especially a man that has respect dignity and decency by the million fold and lived and breathed the cause.
It’s not the way Celtic and it’s ethics and morals are all about so Tommy deservedly walked out the front door.
Wim Jansen wasn’t looking for much more than he did the first season fergus should of listened to the immortal Mr Jensen and met in the middle for he deservedly been given that right but also the key’s to parkhead.
Instead he showed no respect and I run Celtic not you as for budgets fergus says no.
Fergus stayed longer than he promised the supporters Brian Dempsey and Keane.
Jock Brown.
The 3 amigos and others were promised better deals hands shook if they did the business on the park after a season fergus wasn’t a man of his word.
Fergus Mccann deserves respect and our compassion for saving Celtic .
But everything all about out our clubs history heritage identity morals treating people with respect fairness integrity at all times.
But most of all compassion for your fellow man and woman and offer kindness empathy with the plight of of people and life’s struggles given people hope faith and empathy yo all that the need a helping hand or charities close to brother maris our foundations forefathers.
Humility empathy and decency for all that’s what Celtic are about always will be everyone a club for all.