🟢 30 years ago this very month Scots-Canadian businessman Fergus McCann swept into Celtic Park and secured the clubs very existence with an eleventh hour investment that would alter the course of Celtic’s history for ever.
A move such as that however can’t be engineered by just one man and many figures played a key role in what eventually took place on that day back on the 4th of March 1994.
🍀 In this special new series by The Celtic Exchange we speak to some of those individuals as we bring you the inside stories of what unfolded during that incredible time in Celtic history.
We’re covering the story from all angles and that’s epitomised in Part 4 as we speak with Tom Grant, a Director on Celtic’s “Old Board” from 1985 until the takeover in 1994, and a man who can tell the story of how it all unfolded from INSIDE the corridors of Celtic Park.
Tom was one of the few individuals who retained a place in Fergus’ new regime, having ultimately backed “the rebels” in those crucial final days and talks of the tumultuous few years that led to the ’94 takeover.
As part of the new look Celtic took on the role of Stadium Manager, playing a key part in delivering Fergus McCann’s vision of the 60,000 all-seater stadium we see today.
💪 The Battle To Save Celtic is a new mini-series by The Celtic Exchange marking 30 years since Fergus McCann’s takeover of Celtic in March 1994 .
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39 Comments
Love these vlogs, Tottaly takes you back to a very turbulent days. Our fans stood up to be counted when called upon , but Fergus convinced our fans to invest in the dream, and all our succes since can be traced to these times.
Time to get a statue built outside to represent the rhebels
As i have already said, this is an excellent series of podcasts. Again a very interesting, informative episode, with Mr Grant an excellent contributor.
Loving these podcasts…
Another fantastic insight into the goings on during the takeover, would love to see Tom Grants photo collection.
Brilliant podcast mate – can’t believe you let the ‘Mo Johnstone was not a nice person in the tunnel before games’ comment go with out asking him to expand on it
Also, I was actually at one of the rebels roadshows in Portadown in NI where both Brian Dempsey and Davie Provan were guests trying to build support for the takeover
HH Tino Another great listen loved it still want Stadium. much bigger Capacity think big move on football changing hh ktf
Fair play to you Tom for having the bottle and chat to give the Board Room angle prior to the Fergus step in (with some other Tim allies).🍀
Really enjoyed this series Tino, props to you!
Another great interview 🍀
Does anyone know what ever happened to that Chris White Character. He disappeared off the face of the earth 🙏🙏🙏
Brilliant Tino 🍀👍🏼
Another great one Tino 👍🍀
Morning t I n o , I’ve seen the other 3so looking forward to this one hh. Joe. Little. Ireland 🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇨🇮🇨🇮🇨🇮😎
well done MR Tom Grant, for standing up to that greedy no clue board. another great man that saved our club.
Get Michael (the fox) Kelly on
Grant is wrong. The board refused to pay 300k for the Judas vat bill . If they had paid that he wouldn’t have signed for that lot. The board were very poor business men.
Tino why you got 2 watches ⌚️ ⌚️ on ?
Classy interview as per t I n o ::: hh. Joe. Little. Ireland 🇨🇮🇨🇮🇨🇮🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪👍😎
Superb 👏 a really genuine Celtic man the way he spoke.
Maurice johnston can't live in his own country, not because of Rangers fans being against his religion but because of Celtic fans who hate him because he dared join Rangers as a Catholic. Rangers fans loved him and still do.
Tino this has been the best series of interviews about Celtic, absolutely loved it.
Another belter Tino. Great work.
Thoroughly enjoyed all 4 interviews…..a great insight to what went on….Absolutely 1st class…..thank you !!! 🍀
Loved the 4 shows HH Dublin 🇮🇪🇵🇸
Lovely to see my old primary school chum. Fond memories of Tom and his mum in Cardowan.
Mo jo in the tunnel fir who us or at mob ? How did you not ask him what he was doing in the tunnel coz av never heard anything about him being a bad guy apart fae what he done .
Did we no get our seats fae ibrox 😂
The reserve game he mentioned , Celtic Reserves beat Falkirk Reserves 3-2 (Traynor, Shepherd, McClair) in the 2nd XI Cup (postponed fixture of 26/3/85)
Brilliant series. Fascinating.
I really like this guy. I love the way his story bridges the transition. He seems like a really moral, decent guy, troubled by some things which went on but I've no doubt his vote or who he sided with was pivotal and was done with good intentions and Celtics best interest at heart. His family with the old Auntie who possessed the shares are a crucial part of Celtics History. I've often wondered why the old board were so determined to remain a Ltd Company rather than a PLC. The Celtic Wiki view of Tom which I read moments ago, seems to lack understanding of loyalty, business acumen and patience. Ultimately, Tom picked the right side.
I noticed upon return from lockdown how tired the stadium is form entering through the turn style, stairways, concourse, toilets, catering, passageways and even the external, stadium needs a bout of TLC,
Top Class content Tino
I remember a new roof going on the Celtic end around 1986 that must have cost a fair amount of money.
Fabulous so interesting 🙏💚🍀
Fantastic series. Well done men
Best group of interviews on a Celtic podcast ever. Absolutely fantastic and credit to all
I actually think the club did the right thing in releasing Judas signature because it’s nit worth it. You can all say what you want but mo knew exactly what he was doing and it was disgusting . Even if he had contacted the board and been a man and say I’ve changed my mind but he couldn’t even do that . Scummer.
Another great interview tino well done.