‘The Rebels Have Won’ – How Fergus McCann saved Celtic 32 years ago today

In partnership with

The Celtic Star

·4 mars 2026

‘The Rebels Have Won’ – How Fergus McCann saved Celtic 32 years ago today

Today (4 March 2026) is 32 years since Fergus McCann’s 1994 takeover of Celtic. This was one of the most significant events in Celtic’s history, laying the foundations for 21st century dominance…

Fergus McCann Glasgow Celtic Chief Executive 21 August 1995: Photo Mary Evans Allstar Graham Whitby Boot

This Friday (6 March, 6pm), a FREE Celtic history walk – taking place in Glasgow city centre – will tell the story of the takeover. A small number of places remain and can be booked HERE.

Vidéos OneFootball

In recent times, the 1990s events have become very topical owing to the divide between fans and the Board; chants of ‘Sack the Board’ have again echoed around Celtic Park.

Sack The Board banner at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock v Celtic, 14 September 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

The 1994 takeover story actually begins back in Celtic’s early days. In 1897, Celtic became a private company, with 5000 shares issued. This allowed a small number of families (such as Kelly, Grant) to start to own Celtic.

By the 1990s, a small group of people controlled Celtic, but the club faced huge problems, including debts, a rundown stadium and lack of success. For example, Celtic won nothing from 1989-1995, regularly finishing 4th or 5th in the League table.

Michael Kelly at Celtic Park September 1994

In the early-1990s, attempts were made to change Celtic’s Board, bringing on board Michael Kelly and Brian Dempsey. But this ended up causing more fights and arguments. Celtic were very much on a downward spiral.

Celtic fans were angry at these problems and wanted to make changes. In 1991, the first of the campaign groups was formed, Save Our Celts. It had the intention of influencing the Board. This included a public meeting in Shettleston town hall.

By March 1992, the Board was openly fighting amongst itself. Some Board members called an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) to try and throw off another two people from the Board, Tom Grant and James Farrell. This move ultimately failed.

Fergus McCann. Photo Imago

Different Celtic fans worked to remove the Board from power. Most famously led by Fergus McCann, they became known as ‘the Rebels’. They sought to buy or control shares from people around the world, travelling to the USA, Canada and Australia to do this.

As a result of the 1992 EGM fight, the Board now took a different action. Five members of the Celtic Board – Kevin Kelly, Michael Kelly, Chris White, Tom Grant and David Smith – signed a pact. This meant they now had to support each other.

In April 1992, the Board claimed they had a plan to transform Celtic. They proposed building their own ‘Field of Dreams’ – a stadium in Cambuslang. This new Celtic Park was proposed to hold 52,000 seats, as well as train stations and shops.

Despite these hopes, improvements did not arrive. Then in September 1993, a new Celtic fans group emerged. ‘Celts for Change’ was led by people like Matt McGlone and Brendan Sweeney. They organised various actions to try to remove the Board.

The ‘Rebels’ hoped to have a new share issue at Celtic. They believed this would force the old Board to lose control. In November 1993, another EGM took place. However, the share issue plan was rejected by the Board’s ‘Pact of five’.

The Bank of Scotland was angry at this share issue rejection as they were worried that Celtic couldn’t pay their debts. This became a big problem when the club could not afford the first instalment of the transfer fee for Willie Falconer.

Things got even worse for the Celtic Board. Gefinor – the bank said to be funding the Cambuslang stadium – denied they were doing this. And on 1 March 1994, a boycott meant only around 8000 fans (and a fox) attended a Celtic v Kilmarnock game.

Now, Celtic’s Bank took action. They contacted ‘Rebels’ like Fergus McCann and John Keane and asked for funding to secure Celtic’s future. If £1 million was not paid, Celtic would be forced into administration – and maybe even worse.

John Keane put forward the money to save the club – and Fergus McCann flew to Scotland. On 4 March 1994 – 8 minutes before the deadline to save Celtic – a deal was struck with the Bank. But McCann’s group still had to get control of Celtic.

Now the ‘Rebels’ went to Celtic Park to meet with the Board and try to reach a deal. They argued over what the ‘old Board’ should get. Fergus McCann is said to have claimed they should receive “not one thin dime.”

There was still the chance that Celtic could go into receivership. This would make it cheaper for the ‘Rebels’ to buy Celtic. However, eventually, a deal was reached to save Celtic from the humiliation of bankruptcy. The old Board were out!

Fergus McCann Celtic director MD with model of new east Stand for Celtic Park

The next step was to tell the fans that the takeover was to be completed. Famously, Brian Dempsey stood on the Celtic Park steps and proclaimed: “The game is over, the rebels have won!”

There was still lots of work to do to rebuild Celtic; Fergus McCann was not always popular. But in the long run, the takeover legacy is clear. Other club’s finances led to their demise, whilst Celtic have dominated Scotland in the 21st century.

‘The rebels have won’ tour – Friday 6 March, 6pm

Click on image to book your place!

Just as fan and Board relations have reached a low, this walk describes Celtic’s original 1994 ‘Sack the Board’ battle. The tour will visit numerous sites in Glasgow City Centre connected to Fergus McCann’s takeover.

Matthew Marr

32 years ago today the grass roots supporters group ‘Celts For Change’ fought a lone fight with the 2 official Supporters groups unwilling to come on board. Our battle culminated in the old board being removed.Yes Fergus stepped in but the fans paved the way. The Rebels had Won💚
– mercredi 4 mars 2026