In 1994, when the Bank of Scotland told Celtic they would not pay wages the next day as the club was overdrawn, the old board had finally run out of road. That evening, chairman, Kevin Kelly, informed John Keane of the situation. Keane asked his manager at Bank of Ireland to deposit £1m in Celtic’s account at Bank of Scotland as soon as the branch opened the next morning.
Keane had been one of those working to open Celtic up and break the stranglehold of the three families who had largely controlled the club for decades. He became a director when the old board was replaced and retired from that position today.
That £1m payment was made without control or agreements, there was no guarantee it would save the club or that the old regime would actually move on. Keane later said, “Administration was unthinkable. It would have been a slur upon the name of the Club.”
Had the wages not been paid, Celtic would have entered administration, and this would not have been like the Craig Whyte-appointed Rangers administration. High earners would have been released, anything sellable would have been sold. Celtic would have been left with the lowest cost squad able to fulfil fixtures.
The most striking aspect about John Keane is his contentment for others to take the limelight. He tells no one what he did. It has never been about him, always Celtic.
Not all Celtic heroes wear hoops.
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Although page one has stilled to be completed, comment of the page goes to………..Glen @ 2:23😁
Now how is that for luck😱
John Keane’s story deserves as wide an audience as possible, a truly humble man and top class Bhoy. Chapeau doffed sir,enjoy your retirement,you’ve earned it. Hail Hail Hebcelt
Tim Malone will Tell: Thanks for mentioning the Fans’ Café beside the Superstore earlier.
My first visit this season will be for the Hearts match on Aug. 24thh. I wonder will there be any progress?
“Heated driveways”FFS.As common as muck now in the UK.People that come away with this are like”Oh,Erryplanes,you will never get me up in wan ae them”.”Indicators oan moturs,jings,wit next”.
Still,they think its still funny,so fill yer boots.Those of us in the 21st century,will just sigh.
Morning from Charlotte NC,
Overcast here, humid and thunderstorms a-brewing.
Great article Paul – the fact that he did this modestly adds to the class of the man.
Thank you John Keane.
YNWA
….
John Keane is a hero. The other rebels like Dempsey and McCann didn’t have the cash and John made sure it was there.
As an Irishman he knows what the club is about.
I agree also about the heated driveway pish, if you wish criticise the Board and the CEO about their handling of the club but, lets keep it pertinent.
For example, the expenditure targeted at Barrowfield is largely already at Lennoxtown. We don’t need both. So whats the idea.? Whats happening to the Museum and Hotel plan.?
Good to see the warmth of feeling towards John Keane.
Reflects well on our club and support that one can offer deserved support to a genuine Celt who happens to be a board member.
Eurochamps67
OldTim,
Sorry I won’t see you this weekend but next Saturday is pencilled into the diary. Presently travelling from Edinburgh to Inverness on the ole Deadwood Stage. Fortunately the 9” logger is not on the bus, I hope, and the toilet is still patent.
BIGBHOY on 5TH JULY 2019 3:47 PM
For example, the expenditure targeted at Barrowfield is largely already at Lennoxtown. We don’t need both. So whats the idea.? Whats happening to the Museum and Hotel plan.?
____
No idea. You wonder what is the merit in announcing the Barrowfield development pre-planning when we have seen no evidence of the Hotel development entering planning.
Pie in the sky? Floating pitches?
Bit of a quandary here, the lassie sitting next to me is drinking G&T in a can. Do I dob her into the driver if she refuses to give me one of her cans? 😉
OLDTIM67 on 5TH JULY 2019 1:18 PM
Enjoy your day at the BV.
We’ve never met but you too have a somewhat legendary status on here so HH.
I agree with your comments about our CEO, as much for what that criticism of him symbolises – intolerance.
If we cannot practice “a club open to all” on here then it is all just so much hokum & flim flam.
HH
BIGBHOY on 5TH JULY 2019 3:47 PM
John Keane is a hero. The other rebels like Dempsey and McCann didn’t have the cash and John made sure it was there.
As an Irishman he knows what the club is about.
———————
Agree John Keane is a genuine Celtic hero. However lets not forget, Fergus put £9.4 million into Celtic with only 8 minutes to spare
He was not Irish ( don’t understand why that makes you an uber Celtic person ) , but by God he knew what Celtic were about.
HH.
I was saying to the wife I wasn’t sure what to do with our rather large hedge. She asked if I had considered topiary? I replied “I was hoping to be on topiary tonight!”
hedgingyourbetscsc
https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/joel-andersson/profil/spieler/255469
Seems to be a good young prospect. Represented Sweden at all International levels from 16s upwards.
Only 22, so a good age.
RUGGYGMAN on 5TH JULY 2019 4:30 PM
Are Celtic linked with this chap?
BIGBHOY on 5TH JULY 2019 3:47 PM
There are already 3 pitches at barowfield that are used most days by the academy. basically There is a patch of land (size of 2 1/2 pitches). where celtic plan to add some basic facilities I.e. Toilet, changing rooms and an indoor pitch. I would guess Max spend will be £3-4 million tops. I would also guess the indoor pitch is being built at barowfield because lennoxtown is on a hilll and if we built the indoor pitch There it would be at Risk due to
TIMALOY29
I believe so bud.
Although it could be people putting 2 and 2 together.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joel_Andersson
His wiki has him linked to us. And folk have noted that NFL has flown out to Sweden today.
Could be coincidence
Have a hail, hail and hearty retirement John Keane!!
Wind, ps indoor pitch construct is not traditional build
STEPHBHOY
There it would be at Risk due to
Due to what? Don’t keep us in suspense!
STEPHBHOY
See you finished the sentence, thanks! I wouldn’t have guessed wind….
Fool Time Whistle on 5th July 2019 3:59 pm
OLDTIM67 on 5TH JULY 2019 1:18 PM
Enjoy your day at the BV.
We’ve never met but you too have a somewhat legendary status on here so HH.
try getting to the bar before him.HHHHHHHHHHMMMMMMMMMMM
Thank you John Keane for saving our club, a true Celtic hero. And, a Mayo mhan to boot.
Hail Hail
https://www.transfermarkt.com/mehdi-zeffane/profil/spieler/118303
This lad has no links to us what so ever. But if we need Right-back options, he would be worth looking at.
Brought up through the Lyon system… he played initially with Lyon, but has played with F.C Rennes the last 3 seasons.
27 year old. A free agent as of now, July 19
Anyone know what’s happenning with Manny Perez?
He’s on loan at North Carolina FC but he wasn’t in the squad last night when they drew with Charlotte Independence.
I assumed he was with the squad in Austria just like Andrew Gutman, but he didn’t feature in the squad for any game there.
HH
FOOL TIME WHISTLE on 5TH JULY 2019 5:00 PM
Foot injury
RUGGYGMAN on 5TH JULY 2019 4:39 PM
TIMALOY29
I believe so bud.
Although it could be people putting 2 and 2 together.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joel_Andersson
His wiki has him linked to us. And folk have noted that NFL has flown out to Sweden today.
Could be coincidence
___
But he plays in Denmark? I suppose they could have given him some time off…
Well said Paul, John Keane goes down in the annals of our history as a great Celt.
Well said OldTom, Peter Lawwell takes too much stick, much unwarranted.
Enjoy the BV!
Predictive spelling will be the death of me, OldTim!!
Timaloy29 @ 5.02
Thanks.
I missed that along the way somewhere.
TIMALOY29 on 5TH JULY 2019 5:02 PM
RUGGYGMAN on 5TH JULY 2019 4:39 PM
He could fly into Malmo & use The Bridge to Copenhagen…and meet half way…
That’s got the makings of a cross border thriller….
GREENPINATA on 5TH JULY 2019 4:07 PM
John Keane is a hero. The other rebels like Dempsey and McCann didn’t have the cash and John made sure it was there. As an Irishman he knows what the club is about.
———————
Agree John Keane is a genuine Celtic hero. However lets not forget, Fergus put £9.4 million into Celtic with only 8 minutes to spare
*the bunnet actually left enough money in the bank tae ensure his elderly mother and sister were taken care of and ploughed the rest intae the club.
BTW well said OT, some people don’t know when thy are well off.
Tam, you sure do talk some shite :-)
🎵🎶Thia is how it feels to be Celtic
Champions again as you know
John Keane the Tim is
Here for ten in a row
Ten in a row🎵🎶
😀👊🏼💚🍀
MCPHAIL BHOY
lennoxtown is very open, sits on a hilll which leaves it exposed when poor weather comes in ps a lot is scotland. Great views mind you. These Indoor pitches are light weight units and need to be protected as best you can. I am guessing they have consulted with engineers who have advised barrowfield as best place to locate it.
I have no problem with money being spent on this stuff, barrowfield, is a massive part of our history. It should be part of our future too.
The 150 parking spaces can used on matchday.
I would add barrowfield training centre to the stadium tour (a few statues/ plaques players with a nod and wink to the great teams and players who done their stuff there) as a free drop in option. Access/ view facility and academy, reserve, womans games taking place as bonus.
GREENPINATA on 5TH JULY 2019 4:07 PM
BIGBHOY on 5TH JULY 2019 3:47 PM
John Keane is a hero. The other rebels like Dempsey and McCann didn’t have the cash and John made sure it was there.
As an Irishman he knows what the club is about.
———————
Agree John Keane is a genuine Celtic hero. However lets not forget, Fergus put £9.4 million into Celtic with only 8 minutes to spare
He was not Irish ( don’t understand why that makes you an uber Celtic person ) , but by God he knew what Celtic were about.
HH.
——————————————-
John Keane’s mother hailed from the Gorbals district of Glasgow.
John Keane deposited the £1million that saved the club, without condition.
Fergus McCann invested £9.4million in the football club, and his investment returned over £40million. Fair play to him, his calculated risk paid off.
Although the intention was similar, the motivation was different.
HH. 🍀
FERGUS McCann has paid his own tribute to John Keane, who has retired as Director and Honorary Chairman of Celtic Football and Athletic Club, praising his unwavering commitment to Celtic.
Fergus said: “I just saw the news of John Keane’s retirement as Honorary Chairman of The Celtic Football and Athletic Company. The Club owes – and I owe – John Keane a great debt. He was a major and steadfast partner in the rescue and rebuilding of Celtic.
“His commitment never wavered, from long before and during its darkest hour and later, when the hard decisions and hard work had to be done. Unlike some others who promised support then fell away, John was always there.
“He avoided the limelight, never claimed credit, and continued to financially support the growth of the Club without seeking personal profit. His special interest was the development of young players – and that has served Celtic well with years of onfield success.
“Like Brother Walfrid, he came from County Sligo in the ‘Oppressed West’ of Ireland. And he left his mark in a different way. Like every true supporter he understood what Celtic means and its importance to so many people – and was there when it counted.”