John Keane: the only man who stepped forward

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Few Celtic fans could reflect on what they have done for the club with as much satisfaction as John Keane, the former director, who died yesterday.  In 1994, when the Bank of Scotland gave Celtic 24 hours to repay their borrowing or face administration, Keane was one of a group of Celtic supporters who had engaged ‘the old board’ with a view to brining about a regime change.

The board resisted, but when faced with the inevitable, they looked for help.  John Keane was the only man who stepped forward.  As I understand, he paid a banker’s draft for £1m into Celtic’s Bank of Scotland account.  This put the club in credit, Keane had no claim on the money or the club, it was completely an act of faith.  The board, in theory, could have continue to trade, but they immediately opened negotiations with Keane, Fergus McCann and others.

John joined the board when the new regime, headed by McCann, took control.  As one of the largest shareholders in the club, his influence was larger than his public profile.  The Irishman remained on the board as a non-exec and eventually honorary chairman until 2019.

Football is full of blowhards who like to shout about others, but very few of us did what was necessary to prevent our club from collapse.  Without John’s £1m, a brutal administration would have followed the next day and Celtic’s history since then would be very different.

Those who knew him and worked with him held him in great affection.  Our thoughts go to his son Mark and the family.

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  1. Wrote for Clapton’s 4 year old son who died after falling accidentaly out a window….

     

     

    After I read that, the lyrics to the song made so much more sense

  2. BadaBing

     

     

    Rip Brian McInally

     

     

    He was a good guy,am sure he posted here back in day

     

     

    HH

     

    ===============

     

    Turkeybhoy

     

     

    Ease up on what the rekord says,does or implies,its an inked bog roll

     

    I can exclusively reveal they know nothing of what is going on at Celtic,

     

    You are of an age that seems to imply they are in the know,yeh kbow f.all.

     

     

    You come across as an amateur press desk groupie,repuking their gossip.

     

    Give yirsel a wee day of from nooznoo

     

     

    Your analysis of Calum after Germany game could have been one of those followfollow posts you mention often

     

     

    Hh

  3. Family legend.

     

     

    My English great granda Percy Cox was born in ullverston Cumbria in 1890.

     

     

    Across the back from a Stanley Jefferson who was born in high grandfathers house.

     

     

    Percy lived till the late 70s and I remember him quite well.

     

     

    He used to tell the story that he played football with Stan as a kid.

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