Celtic Takeover – The Celtic Wiki

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Details

Ref: The Celtic Takeover
aka: Sack The Board, Takeover
Dates: circa 1992 – 4 March 1994

Summary

In 1994, the Celtic Board made up of the old ‘Biscuit Tin‘ families that had played a dominant role in much of Celtic’s history were finally ousted by the ‘Rebels‘, and replaced with a new board fronted by the Scots-Canadian businessman Fergus McCann.

This section documents the details of what went on in the periods before, during and after the takeover.

A good overview can be read at the following link.

The articles below cover the main figures involved and the part played by the fans in the whole saga.

It was a truly emotional and difficult time for all.

Overview

“The Rebels Have Won”

Articles

Celtic United – (Celtic View 01/04/1992)
How Peace Broke Out/Battle With No Losers (Celtic View 08/04/92)
Independent Magazine Article (20th Nov 1993)
Cambuslang site plans
Citizen McCann (2004) Sunday Herald Article
Walkout – Letter from Celtic (8th March 1994)
Fergus McCann Letter to Supporters (1994)
Miscellaneous Articles

The Rebel Investors (‘Rebels’)

Supporters’ Groups

The Biscuit Tin Board

Other Notable Figures

Quotes

“The game is over. The Rebels have won.”
Brian Dempsey on the steps of Celtic Park to announce the Biscuit Tin board had been defeated (Mar 1994)

”My message to the fans is sympathy and appreciation. They have tolerated so much and put up with a terrible situation for so long. I would urge them to get behind the club again and morale will quickly rise.”
Fergus McCann on the takeover (Mar 1994)

”This will not be sorted out overnight or even in a season…. Patience will never be more necessary among the supporters.”
Fergus McCann soon after the Takeover (1994)

“These rebels, these people are trying to damage the club.”
Chairman Kevin Kelly in a Radio Interview (pre-takeover)

“You have the power – use it. You have the courage – don’t be afraid.”
Brian Dempsey to the Supporters at a rally

‘All we are left to do is regret the lost opportunities, the lost five years, the hundreds and thousands of pounds that could have been invested in the club instead of being wasted if these tiny, frightened men had, just once, put Celtic first.’
From a leader article in the Celtic fanzine Not The View Issue 48

“Glasgow Celtic is a football club fighting itself as much as its ancient rival, Rangers.”
Amanda Mitchison (The Independent newspaper)

“They thought it was but it never was a realistic prospect. At the end of the day they never had any money and the club would have ended up as a tenant of some anonymous City investors. It’s the sort of desperate thing you dream up when you’ve nowhere to go.”
David Low on Cambuslang stadium proposals

“We were always a loose coalition. Me, Fergus, Brian Dempsey, John Keane, Eddie Keane, Jack Flanagan, Michael McDonald. The only thing we had in common was our love of Celtic. ”
David Low on the ‘Rebels’ group (Rebel Investors)

“In early ‘90s we were told by the CSA and the Affiliation of CSCs that we the malcontents were not real Celtic supporters for criticising the Board. Neither organisation lifted a finger. Needed folk like Brendan Sweeney to light the touch fire.”
David Low (2019)

“If I had reported what happened at board meetings no one would have believed me. They would have said Basil Fawlty wrote that.”
Former Celtic Chief Exec Terry Cassidy on his time at Celtic (1994)

“The talk in the changing room was all the politics instead of getting on with the football side of it.”
Wayne Biggins, Celtic Player during that period (2015)