ANTHONY HAGGERTY

PAOLO DI CANIO losing the plot will always be synonymous with Barrowfield – but for Alan Stubbs losing his breath gets a look-in too.

The former Celtic defender only has fond memories of the club’s “basic but great” old training base.

Under the late Tommy Burns it was the scene of di Canio’s infamous 1996 meltdown as “all hell broke loose”.

And under Dr Jozef Venglos it was where bewildered supporters got to see their stars “dropping like flies” trying an unorthodox breathing exercise.

For Stubbs, who spent five years covering every blade of grass there, it was where Celts’ success took shape.

That is why the 47-year-old is chuffed the club have finally submitted planning permission for a major redevelopment of the east end of Glasgow site, seeing the construction of one of Scotland’s largest indoor football arenas.

Lennoxtown has been the Hoops first-team’s home since 2007 but for Stubbs it was the less glamorous surroundings near to Celtic Park.

He said: “There is a real history attached to Barrowfield and Celtic – so many legendary and famous people have graced the turf. I a.haggerty@dailyrecord.co.uk was actually surprised when Celtic took the decision to move away from Barrowfield and build Lennoxtown.

“I thought the club would have revamped Barrowfield instead and it was an emotional switch.

“But I understood the need to bring Celtic into the 21st century in terms of facilities. My abiding memories of Barrowfield are the site itself was basic but great.

“I also remember the Paolo di Canio incident very well. Paolo was a typical volatile, temperamental Italian.

“It was a regular occurrence to see Paolo throw his toys out of the pram.

“He was a highly emotional guy but in a good way. Paolo was a fantastic trainer and one of the best I have seen and worked with.

“That particular day at Barrowfield all hell broke loose. The pass was s**t, the training ground was s**t, the team were s**t because we kept losing to Rangers.

“Paolo just lost it, took his boots off, stormed off the training ground and started walking in his socks back to Celtic Park.

“Tommy Burns sorted it all out very quickly, Paolo apologised to the manager and he was back at training the next day as good as gold.

“Although the Celtic players took the p**s out of Paolo every day at training after that incident.”

A planning permission proposal has been lodged with Glasgow City Council that would see two full-sized grass pitches plus another two artificial – one indoor and one outside – installed alongside an outdoor warm-up area.

Celtic say a redeveloped Barrowfield, used mostly by their youth teams now, will boost their academy and women’s squads while the indoor facility would help Neil Lennon’s side in poor weather.

A gym, new changing rooms, a grandstand and refreshment facilities for fans are also in the pipeline. What those supporters who head

along witness will no doubt be much different from what those in Stubbs’ day will have got a glimpse of.

He said: “During Dr Jo’s time he got us to perform this bizarre breathing exercise. He got the team to run around the whole of Barrowfield and to see how long we could hold our breath for.

“This just happened to be after a team night-out. A few of the lads turned up at training worse for wear and still intoxicated.

“The manager was a doctor and the reason for the exercise was to do with oxygen levels and lung capacity.

“That was my first insight into sports science. The Celtic players were dropping like flies after 30 seconds.

“We all just thought, ‘What on earth are we doing here?’.

“The Celtic supporters would regularly turn up at Barrowfield and watch the team train from the sides.

“It was a genuine sight to behold to see international players collapsing to the floor in a heap.

“It was like the last man standing and to see who was going to be the clown who could hold their breath the most.

“The Celtic supporters who had gathered to watch training that day couldn’t believe what they were seeing. They just stood gobsmacked and openmouthed – they stared in amazement at what Dr Jo was doing. “My memories of Barrowfield will always be good though because Celtic were very successful during my time at the club. “Hopefully the planning permission is approved and Celtic will then have another first-class training facility on the doorstep of the stadium.” Champions League matches every season so he is in a good environment.

“I think he takes less risks than he used to in his game but that comes with experience.”

But Ajer insisted he couldn’t be happier at the Hoops and said: “I have a three-year deal at Celtic and I am at one of the world’s biggest clubs. I love to play there.

“That’s the only thing I am focusing on right now. It’s a really exciting time.

“Neil Lennon has come in as manager and done a very good job. We won the Treble.

“It’s fantastic to be in Glasgow and I’m looking forward to next season.

“The past six months have undoubtedly been the best in my career.

“I have played all the matches and performed well with the rest of the team. It’s been really good.”