Not all Celtic heroes wear hoops

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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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323 Comments

  1. Lenny sounding rather bullish today, which is good.

     

     

    Phil Mac is correct though, even if Celtic were to spend £100million – the zombie club always win the pre-season, regardless.

     

     

    Ah well, such is life.

     

     

    HH. 🍀

  2. Tim Malone Will Tell on

    I see the Daily Record has us linked with Romain Sawyers at Brentford.

     

    Very tidy player – but I don’t think he is a ‘like for like’ comparison with David Turnbull.

     

     

    It’s probably all guff anyway…

  3. Tim

     

     

    I sauntered along to watch a game. Brentford v Derby.

     

    Spotted him straight away. Cool as a cucumber.

     

     

    I did wonder however if he’d be able to up his pace for the SPL tempo.

     

     

    HH jg

  4. Good Morning Timland,

     

     

    I’m at a wee bit of a loss here, maybe someone can help me out.

     

     

    John Keane is retiring after exceptional and selfless dedication to the Celtic Football and Athletic Company. The Club and it’s rescue in the nineties.

     

     

    He has, as far as I can see, received deserved accolades for his part in this and the self-effacing way he has conducted himself.

     

     

    Could someone point out the part played by Peter Lawwell, I’m missing the point here.

     

     

    Hail Hail

  5. Morning all,Ntcham looking for a move…..

     

     

    Ntcham, speaking to the French media, said: “Games came one after another, but with respect to my opponents, if the level isn’t high, you don’t progress.

     

    —————————————

     

    The opposition was that poor that you forgot to try a leg against them :O(

     

    Best of luck to you,Bon chance .

  6. glendalystonsils on

    Ntcham is quite right , the standard in the SPL is not brilliant . He fitted in very well though by dropping his standard of performance to that of a Hearts or St. Johnstone level.

  7. Tim Malone Will Tell on

    Jamesgang,

     

     

    I’ve actually got a season ticket at Brentford so have watched Sawyers a fair amount. Agree totally with your description – but if he could cope with the SPFL pace he sure knows how to move the play around.

     

     

    The news that Harper has signed a deal with West Brom might give the Sawyers story a bit more credence – but I would be surprised if we could get him for the £2.5m reported. I also think that Dean Smith at Villa is a big fan of Sawyers…

  8. Tim

     

     

    Are you really? Given I spend a big chunk of my life in Kew I’ll mibbee see you at a match some time.

     

     

    My one and only match thus far. Told I’d be in the ‘standing section’. Got to it and it was an old style terrace. Which was nice.

     

     

    Given he’s from Nevis, I presume he’d also bring a cool as **** accent to the squad!

     

     

    HH jg

  9. Tim Malone Will Tell on

    jg

     

     

    Could certainly meet up for a game and a beer next season. I really like Griffin Park – an authentic fitba spectating experience although I sit in the tin shed described as a stand.

     

    Brentford are not a bad wee team – try to play the game properly – and always seem to me to have 2 or 3 players who could slot in at Celtic.

     

     

    Let me know when you plan to go.

  10. Tim…………did you ever drink in the New Inn……or Horseguards???

     

     

    WL CSC

  11. quadrophenian on

    When I watched Ntcham play at first I was v beguiled by his control, poise and vision; so silky, I thought.

     

    But you can never discern a new player’s appetite and attitude from early games cos you’re always making allowances for them ‘settling in’. But a player never settles on a stepping stone. So Olli boy, it was with you.

     

    So far, we haven’t seen anywhere near the true value of the alleged 4.5m we shelled on your transfer fee.

     

    If you wanna go I’ll remember you as gifted but never giving us your all – always seemed to be holding back.

     

    Dont let la porte hit votre derriere on the way to the ‘higher level’ you think you belong on, monsieur. HH

  12. Tim Malone Will Tell on

    Bankiebhoy

     

     

    Been in the Horseguards once or twice – a surreal experience – like stepping into a Celtic pub in Glasgow. Tend more towards the Princess Royal or the Waterman Arms on match days.

  13. VOGUEPUNTER @ 10:07 AM,

     

     

    There was a post by Park Road regarding Moussa Rag-dolling Young McCorrie, in fact, as a Scotsman (2nd Gael first) I was embarressed for the lad.

     

     

    Say what you want about John Greig and Tam Forsyth but that display was abject.

     

     

    So if Moussa had said that I’d be dissappointed but would understand.

     

     

    After N’tcham’s display in the New Year Derby, when he was owned by Andy Halliday… words fail me…

     

     

    Hail Hail

  14. Tim- I hear ye…………………!

     

     

    Loved my time n them parts. Them Bhoys know how to have a party!

     

     

    :)

     

     

    HH

  15. Holy Cross doggers CSC?

     

     

    Sadly, this was my downfall too many a day wasted in all the Hamilton, hidey holes of the day.

     

     

    Re-emerging to daylight at home time, without a care in the world.

  16. in ither news……………..

     

     

    Thon dick, Campbell………….

     

     

     

    Oh aye.

  17. Melbourne Mick on

    Hello again all you young rebels.

     

     

    Glad to see you have all wakened up in a sprightly Celtic mood

     

    this lovely Melbourne evening.

     

    Something not right about that, it’s all so confusing this blogging

     

    with people just getting up and us Antipodeans going to bed, i

     

    suppose it’s brilliant for the insomniacs among us, no names no

     

    packdrill.

     

    Great day today in the city, beautiful and sunny, got a coupla

     

    hail, hails, but the best was when we visited the little Greek suburb

     

    of Oakleigh, my Celtic top worked a treat and of course big Georgious

     

    Samaris was the main talking point.

     

    Can’t remember what that liquid was called that you light it and then

     

    burn your lips when you down it but after about fourteen i decided

     

    not for me 8-))

     

    H .H Mick

  18. Glasgow has moved back centuries today. Watch out for Neanderthals and Dinosaurs.

     

     

    HH to all who live in 2019.

  19. Ntcham in, i want to leave shocker haha!!! Sell to highest bidder and all the best. Should have been punted last season cause he has been like a man down.

     

     

    Gonna just go out n give us a rightback now

  20. sixtaeseven - 70 trophies in my lifetime on

    Strange that a pretty insignificant match between two low-ranking European teams should be classed “HIGH RISK”.

     

    I wonder why that could be..?

     

     

    Europa League 1st Qualifying Round:

     

    St Joseph’s FC (Gib, ranked 344) v Sevco (Sco, ranked 150)

  21. South Of Tunis on

    KING LUBO – yesterday at 7.20 pm ..

     

     

    Received an SMS from a PTFC pal who lurks on here for his ” Gruesome Twosome ” fix .

     

     

    Learned you’d left me a message — here’s my response –

     

     

    I’m good -thanks .Hope you can say the same . Full on summer and theCricket World Cup thing is mighty fine .In Puglia today -en route for a ferry to Croatia and then a drive to Sarajevo ..

     

     

    No flounce etc – but – I’m done with here . . Echo Chambers are not my thing ..

     

     

    Take care . Keep well . Best wishes . One more choon for the road-

     

     

    https://youtu.be/jlE8YzLRlcI

  22. SOUTH OF TUNIS @ 1:00 PM,

     

     

    You’re sadly missed.

     

     

    Still no reason why you can’t pop in from time to time and let us know how’s it going – way down south…

     

     

    Hail Hail

  23. !!Bada Bing!! on

    SoT- good to hear from you, shame you are departing, will miss your Italian pundits anecdotes ,good luck,

  24. weebobbycollins on

    Emeraldbee… wan a them wee newbies wur ye? :-)

     

    I was there from 59 to summer 63….Beatles were starting to explode…Cassius Clay had just beaten Henry Cooper…the world was about to shake…

  25. Melbourne Mick on

    WEEBOBBYCOLLINS

     

     

    We all live in a Celtic submarine lol

     

    Think i started that in the jungle, no doubt i’ll have a few decriers.

     

    Booooo.

     

    h.h mICK

  26. bigrailroadblues on

    Police vans, ambulances outside the star bar and the Laurieston. Another effing waste of resources for these scum.😡