RETURN TO GLORY

The early years of the 1990s had been a miserable time for the
club, jolted by poor performances on the field and major disruption
in the boardroom.

But when Fergus McCann assumed overall control of the club in
1994, the club began to move in the right direction again.

Lou Macari was an early casualty of the new regime. McCann had
never hidden his disapproval for the manager and Macari was
sacked in June 1994. In his place the club turned to a man who
could genuinely be said to have Celtic in his blood. Tommy Burns
returned (at a cost of a ￡100,000 fine imposed by the Scottish
Football League for alledged inducement) and began to build
a new team worthy of the club's famous history.

A scouting network was set up to attract the best young players
, while money was provided to strengthen the current squad. Burns
quickly showed his eye for talent, adding Pierre van Hooijdonk
and Andreas Thom to the team, while blooding young players with
great prospects for the future, including Phil O'Donnell and
Simon Donnelly. Burns also emphasised the importance of the
club's fans and encouraged players to attend functions organised
by supporters.

Off the field the new regime set out to make Celtic Park a stadium
to match the team. In August 1995 the new North Stand was opened
. This did mean the club had to play at Hampden for a season,
but the improved facilities certainly seemed worth the sacrifice
.

In January 1995 fans were able to buy shares in the club and
they responded by buying nearly ￡14m worth, the most successful
football flotation in Britain.

The feeling that the club was returning to its proper place in
Scottish football was cemented by victory in the Scottish Cup
final in 1995. Pierre van Hooijdonk scored the only goal of
the game against Airdrie to clinch Celtic's 30th Scottish Cup
victory and, perhaps more importantly, the club's first trophy
in six years. It was a much needed win, easing the previous
season's League Cup final defeat by Raith Rovers.

In season 1995/96 Celtic continued to improve and although no
trophies were won the progress of the Club was considerable.
The season ticket base rose to 29,500 and the team finished
just 4 points below Rangers to end the season in second place
. For the first time since 1988 Celtic were credible contestants
in the league, developing an attractive flowing style football
which attracted crowds in excess of 30,000 to every home match
in season 1995/96.

As the 1996/97 season began, Tommy Burns further strengthened
his squad with new signings Paulo Di Canio and Alan Stubbs and
there was a growing expectation that the new Celtic would become
as notable team as any who have graced Celtic Park in the last
108 years.

Despite finishing second in the league, only one victory against
the eventual winners Rangers would have seen Celtic champs.
As well as qualifying for the Europe, reaching the quarter finals
of the Coca-Cola Cup and the Semi-finals of the Scottish Cup
major rebuilding work on the football pitch was also underway
.

The East Stand was opened, costing around ￡6m, taking the stadium
capacity to 50,170 seating a record 40,000 season book holders
.

The season will probably be more remembered for the off-field
events which saw considerable changes. Including Manager Tommy
Burns, Assistant Manager Billy Stark, Directors, Willie Haughey
and Dominic Keane, Paul McStay, Peter Grant, Pat Bonner, Pierre
van Hooijdonk, Brian O'Neill and Chris Hay all departing the
club for various reasons.



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