Tommy top of the league – Strachan

Published on Friday 16 May 2008 10:31

CELTIC boss Gordon Strachan described Tommy Burns as "top of the league" of football's gentlemen as he shed a tear following the death of his good friend.

Burns, who died yesterday at the age of 51 after a battle with cancer, served Celtic for 25 years as a player, then as a manager and more recently as a coach and head of the club's youth set-up.

Strachan and Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell paid tribute to Burns, whose standing in the Scottish game was reflected in the many tributes left at Parkhead during the day.

Wiping tears from his eyes in the club's boardroom, Strachan said: "No disrespect to football, but being Tommy's mate is the best part of coming to Celtic.

"People will be judged, not as a footballer – and there weren't many better than him – but as a person. He's top of the league when it comes to being a man."

Many Rangers fans on their way back from the UEFA Cup final in Manchester stopped by to pay their respects, to applause from Celtic supporters.

Lawwell said Burns "was a wonderful human being".

He added: "Tommy will go down in history as a Celtic legend amongst many, many great legends Celtic have."

Burns' funeral will take place next Tuesday at 12.15pm in Glasgow, and later in the day the funeral cortege will pass by the main stand at Celtic Park to allow fans the chance to pay their respects.