Soccer

In The Irish News on November 10, 1998: Fergus McCann launches stinging attack on Wim Jansen

Celtic managing director Fergus McCann took aim at Wim Jansen in the wake of the Dutchman's departure from Celtic Park 20 years ago. Picture by PA
Celtic managing director Fergus McCann took aim at Wim Jansen in the wake of the Dutchman's departure from Celtic Park 20 years ago. Picture by PA Celtic managing director Fergus McCann took aim at Wim Jansen in the wake of the Dutchman's departure from Celtic Park 20 years ago. Picture by PA

CELTIC managing director Fergus McCann yesterday broke off fro giving his thoughts on finding a new general manager to round on Wim Jansen – the man who led the club to their first title in 10 years.

Dutch coach Jansen, who quit Parkhead just two days after lifting the championship in May, is still bitter at the manner of his departure.

He applauded the resignation of general manager Jock Brown at the weekend, saying there should still be room in the Celtic set-up for his former assistant Murdo MacLeod.

Jansen was also critical of the performance of current Celtic coach Eric Black.

But McCann said: “I think it is important for me, on behalf of the board of Celtic, and personally, to state how much we do not appreciate the remarks attributed to Wim Jansen.

“His critical and personal comments about Eric Black, in particular, are grossly unprofessional and bitter.

“We are delighted to have the services of a highly professional and effective coach in Eric Black in his present role, and our head coach Jozef Venglos shares that view.”

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AFTER just one game of the new NFL series, Armagh have been hit by their third retirement decision, with confirmation yesterday Martin McQuillan has packed it in.

The 34-year-old stalwart star has opted to call it quits after a career covering 14 seasons.

McQuillan featured in Ulster’s famous six in-a-row of Railway Cups, two league title shots for Armagh, and as many senior provincial Championship finals.

The decision was made four days after their heavy first round NFL Division 1A defeat at Donegal, his 85th league game, which he marked by scoring a point.

His decision to call it a day follows the announcements last month that Neil Smyth and Martin Toye had decided to retire from inter-county football after 13-year careers.

In the same month the retirement of Down’s Ross Carr was also confirmed.

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SUSPENSION has cost Blackburn Rovers winger Damien Johnson the chance of a first full international cap when Northern Ireland host Moldova next Wednesday.

North boss Lawrie McMenemy revealed that the teenage prospect would have joined the senior squad at Windsor if he had not been debarred by a ban accrued with the U21s.

“We thought he might have been available for the senior side anyway and I would have put him in the squad, but that is not the case,” said McMenemy.

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Twenty years ago, there was speculation that Mike Tyson could fight on a bill in Dublin, alongside Belfast's Wayne McCullough
Twenty years ago, there was speculation that Mike Tyson could fight on a bill in Dublin, alongside Belfast's Wayne McCullough Twenty years ago, there was speculation that Mike Tyson could fight on a bill in Dublin, alongside Belfast's Wayne McCullough

DAN Goosen, president of America Presents, the professional boxing promotions company run by Mat Tinley, has secured a stake in the multi-million dollar comeback of former world heavyweight champion, Mike Tyson.

It has led to long-odds speculation Tyson might yet feature in Dublin next year, on the same bill as Wayne McCullough, if the Denver firm can tie-up deals and permits, with hints of McCullough going for South Africa’s IBF super-bantamweight title-holder Vuyani Bungu or the WBC’s 122lbs champion, Erik Morales of Mexico.

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CHELSEA’S £5.4million record signing Pierluigi Casiraghi will undergo an exploratory operation on his injured right knee today to discover if he can play again this season.

But manager Gianluca Vialli has already started to replenish his squad in light of Casiraghi’s expected absence – and the departure of Brian Laudrup – by signing Danish midfielder Bjarne Goldbaek from Laudrup’s new club, FC Copenhagen.

Initial reports have indicated that Casiraghi is likely to be out of action for six months with damage to the ligaments in his right knee and the nerves leading to his foot following his accidental collision with Rio Ferdinand at West Ham on Sunday.