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Reid installed as Celtic chairman
GLASGOW (AFP) - John Reid, Britain's former Home Secretary, was confirmed Monday as the new chairman of Scottish football giants Celtic during the Glasgow club's annual general meeting.
Reid, who held office under Tony Blair before stepping down from the Cabinet in June ahead of Gordon Brown becoming Prime Minister, had been announced as the Celtic board's choice to succeed Brian Quinn in September.
"I regard this as the greatest honour of my life," Reid told the AGM.
"When you come to this club, you leave the background, religious division, and political division behind. This is not a forum for political debate.
"I am a member of the Celtic family and a lifelong supporter."
The religious tension between Celtic, a predominately Catholic club and their arch Glasgow rivals Rangers, whose supporter base is overwhelmingly Protestant, has been a longstanding feature of Scottish football.
Although Reid received the overwhelming backing of Celtic shareholders, a small number of those attending the AGM attacked the decision to install the 60-year-old Reid as chairman.
Reid, who held nine different ministerial posts in a decade under Blair is due to retire as an MP at the next general election having been in Parliament for the past 20 years where he currently represents the Scottish constituency of Hamilton North and Bellshill.
He will become the latest former leading politician to take an active role within British football.
Brian Mawhinney, a minister in the Conservative government of John Major, Blair's predecessor as Prime Minister, is chairman of England's Football League - the body which represents the country's three professional divisions below the Premiership.
Celtic, the reigning Scottish champions, are currently three points ahead of Rangers at the top of the Premier League table.
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