Fergus McCann was never a billionaire. Just a believer in a better Celtic

Wee Fergus back in town, we could sure do with someone with his vision in the present day…

We can’t deny that Celtic football club is not only one of the most successful clubs in Britain, but one of the best run in many areas.

It’s been that way for several decades and it all started when Fergus McCann saved us from the brink back in 1994, and reinvented us on and off the park to become once again the dominant force in Scottish football. We were stuck in a rut and run by charlatans who were incapable of moving Celtic forward and seemed hell bent on destroying the club until wee Fergus intervened by putting his hand in his pocket.

When wee Fergus packed up he left behind a club in a healthy financial position he effectively passed that torch onto Irish billionaire Dermot Desmond who still remains the largest shareholder of Celtic football club to this very day.

Celtic's largest shareholder gave his thoughts on Celtic's Champions League chances

Alfred Dunhill Links Championship 2024 Dermot Desmond and Thorbjorn Olesen DEN winners of the team event receiving there silver salvour from Peter Dawson Alfred Dunhill Links Trust after the final round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship 2024 on the Old Course at St. Andrews Golf CLub, Fife, Scotland. 06/10/2024. Picture Fran Caffrey / Golffile.ie

Desmond has invested his time and money into the club, the Irish tycoon made it possible for the likes of Martin O’Neill and Brendan Rodgers to occupy the Celtic manager’s office, which in turn saw us enjoy some unparalleled success this last quarter of a century.

However despite this much appreciated input i think many would agree that it’s time Desmond looked for a fresh approach and new ideas and if that can’t happen for whatever reason perhaps he should consider selling his  shares or bringing aboard new investors.

Celtic chairman Peter Lawwell and CEO Michael Nicholson

Celtic v Kilmarnock – Celtic chairman Peter Lawwell and CEO Michael Nicholson during the cinch Premiership match at Celtic Park on Saturday February 17, 2024. Photo Andrew Milligan

Our board needs refreshing and improving and that too should also be part of the sweeping changes that look increasingly necessary. They should be replaced with fresh expertise and talented professionals minded to help drag our club into the modern era of football.  Michael Nicholson is a lawyer and his football expertise comes as a supporter and from his time as company secretary where he was competent and reliable. Did that merit the promotion from within – after the short but sweet Dominic McKay pitstop?

Ange Postecoglou with Dominic McKay

Ange Postecoglou and Dominic McKay Unveiling – Celtic Park Celtic new manager Ange Postecoglou poses for a photo at Celtic Park Glasgow. Picture date: Friday June 25, 2021. Photo: Jeff Holmes

Did Celtic look at alternatives or were all outsiders – regardless of their ability to do the job – dismissed because they weren’t from within the tent? And we literally will be putting up the tent outside Celtic Park in a few weeks because nothing has been done to elevate the Main stand at Celtic Park to make it fit for purpose for Champions League football.

Wee Fergus was back in town for flag day and looked as sharp as ever even in his advancing years. A real man of the people he took the train to and from the game, changing at Central station. He was happy to meet and be with Celtic supporters. You wonder what he made of the performance.

We could sure do with someone with his ilk to take the club forward, as currently we are a bit static and comfortable with what we have, we can achieve so much more but are in great need of fresh faces and ideas behind the scenes. Fergus is yesterday’s success story at Celtic and his legacy is clearly a positive. Celtic’s success has been build on his love of and commitment to the club he supports.

He was never a billionaire. Just a believer in a better Celtic. Maybe that’s what we need now…

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

CELTIC IN THE EIGHTIES BY DAVID POTTER, FOREWORD BY DANNY McGRAIN is published by Celtic Star Books on the fifth day of September. You can pre-order now to guarantee your copy which will be signed by Danny McGrain, with just a limited number of signed copies still available, although they are selling very quickly.

Thank you to everyone who has already pre-ordered and don’t worry, your copy will be signed by the legendary Celtic and Scotland star who captained Celtic for the early years of the 1980s.

And from today we’ve reduced the price of an earlier David Potter book – Celtic’ Icicle – Alec McNair – which you’ll receive for FREE when you order with Celtic in the Eighties. So  you get two great Celtic books by David Potter and better still the postage is only charged on one. Offer available for a short period only as we have a very limited number of copies of David’s wonderful book on Alec McNair left.

So why have one brilliant David Potter book when you can enjoy two?

Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter

Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Foreword by Danny McGrain. Published on Celtic Star Books on 5 September 2025. Click on image to pre-order.

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About Author

An ordinary everyday Celtic supporters hailing and still residing in Govan in the shadows of the enemy. I’m a season ticket holder. I Witnessed my first Celtic game in 1988 and have attended when I can ever since. Growing up in the 90s I witnessed Celtic at their lowest, and now appreciate the historic success we enjoy today. I enjoy writing about this wonderful football club and hopefully will continue to do so. I’ve always been a keen writer and initially started this a hobby. My ambition is to one day become as good an author as my fellow Celtic Star colleagues.

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4 Comments

  1. David Potter – gone but never forgotten.

    It started with JOHN KEANE putting his money into the BOS to stave off Celtic becoming bankrupt.
    Like Fergus it was an act of unconditional love. There was no guarantees with their investment.

    13th. October 2021. – There was 28,335 Ordinary Celtic supporters, they need their voices to be heard.

  2. 13 October 2021 – Celtic plc had 28,335 Ordinary shareholder supporters.

    Their combined voices would matter in the running of Celtic FC.

  3. RPM Celtic fan on

    Correct me if I’m wrong but is it not a fact that no one has ever put more money INTO Celtic than Dermot Desmond and that no one has ever made more money OUT of Celtic than Fergus McCann , yet one is hero worshiped and the other isn’t .

    • Stevenagebhoy on

      How much money has Dermot Desmond actually put into Celtic? And how much profit will he make when he cashes in his chips?

      Fergus had a clear plan and made it quite apparent that, if it worked, he would walk away with the club saved and he would have money in his pocket. Would that Dermot be anywhere near so transparent.