Would Celtic have survived without Fergus McCann

[Nutmeg Magazine]

Tonight marks 30 years since Fergus McCann swept into Celtic Park and rewrote the rules about how, and by whom, Celtic FC was run. 

Many think it was the night the club was saved from going bust. 

It's a story that was told in depth in Nutmeg 14 by Stephen O'Donnell.

To mark the 30-year anniversary, we've reproduced his epic account on the website.

So what do you think? Would The Hoops have survived without him?

[Jacksgranda]

Interesting read.

[LuboMoravcik]

I don't think we would have. He certainly laid the foundations for our success in the 21st century and he's very well regarded amongst the support because of that.

[GordonS]

That's a really good read, covers all the details and gives a fair account. Currently rummaging the site and thinking about subscribing.

The difference between Celtic and Rangers over the past 30 years is that Celtic had Fergus McCann as their knight in shining armour while Rangers got Craig Whyte.

[pozbaird]

Of course they would have survived. Just think of all the basket case clubs on the brink, in both Scotland and England. The administrations, the points deductions, the dropping down the leagues. Christ, we even actually had a liquidation, and, well, there ‘they’ are. Still parading out of Govan.

Your Leeds Uniteds, your Livingstons, Dundees, your enter name of club here… who actually did a Third Lanark. I mean, imagine the site of Celtic Park, sitting like Cathkin. Overgrown, derelict, eventually turned into a housing scheme. No Celtic for fans to go and watch. Scottish football with only one of them.

Not a chance. None. Rangers would probably have bailed them out, they need each other that much.