Football FanCast columnist Brian Damien-Morgan pays tribute to Tommy Burns.

The death of Tommy Burns has come as a huge shock to all people connected with Celtic Football Club. His contribution to the club is unsurpassed, as is his passion for the team he supported as a boy and in his many roles at Celtic park. His joyful and playful personality is the characteristic that has endeared him to fans and friends all his life.

Tommy Burns is a Celtic legend on a par with Jimmy Johnstone, Jonny Doyle and countless other greats that have walked through Parkhead's gates. Burns protected the clubs history in the centenary year under manager Billy McNeil by contributing to the league and Scottish cup. He then moved to Kilmarnock for £50,000, where he would bring them back from relegation as Killy manager four years later.

His hard work for Kilmarnock brought him back to Celtic park to create one of the most attacking teams that was both easy on the eye and created fluid enjoyable football. Burns ended Celtics trophy drought with a win against Airdrieonians at Hampden Park, courtesy of a Pierre Van Hooijdonk header to win the Scottish cup. Burns was at the helm of a talented footballing team. His entire ethos was to enjoy football as it was meant to be played and this echoed in his contributions to any other team he was involved in. However, this wasn't enough for then chairman Fergus McCann, and amid protests from the fans Tommy Burns was sacked as manager of Celtic to make way for Wim Jansen.