It has become an increasingly common sight outside our football grounds and yet familiarity brings with it no diminishing sense of distress. Tommy Burns' life had been intrinsically linked with Celtic Park, as player, manager, and then coach, and it was there that supporters began to gather as news began to spread of his premature death from cancer.

He was 51 years old. By noon yesterday, around 200 supporters had gathered outside the main entrance to pay their respects, many leaving tributes in the form of flowers, scarves and football shirts.

The messages attached gave an insight to how Burns was perceived both as a football personality but also as a man. "There was a space in heaven's huddle and God called Tommy Burns," read one tribute hastily scribbled across a replica Celtic shirt.

Another noted that Burns would now be "together with Jinky Johnstone and Phil O'Donnell", two more former Celtic players whose passing has been mourned in recent years.

The presence of various Rangers scarves and shirts among the ocean of green and white spoke volumes for Burns' ability to transcend the Glasgow divide. A reverential hush consumed those in mourning as car after car crept past the growing throng before emptying to allow more supporters to offer their condolences.

Inside, Gordon Strachan, Peter Lawwell and Stephen McManus, the Celtic manager, chief executive and captain respectively, did their best to transform feelings into words. Strachan had visited Burns just hours before his death and recalled a man who had become not only a great Celtic coach but also a true friend.

"No disrespect to football, but being Tommy's mate has been the best part of joining Celtic," Strachan said, his voice wavering with emotion.

"In the last few years I've been able to call him a friend. People won't be judged on being a footballer, although there weren't many better than him, but as a person. He's top of the league when it comes to being a man.

"It was just a privilege to be in his company every day. The most important thing I did when I came here was to make Tommy my assistant manager. Through his intelligence, common sense and humour, he made me understand what Glasgow was all about.

"He kept me sane at times. There is a difference between legendary footballers and legendary men and I know what I would rather be remembered for.

He was part of my life every day for three years. That's why I'm taking it so hard today. I'm missing him as badly as I've ever missed anybody."

Celtic have one fixture still to fulfil in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, away to Dundee United on Thursday evening. It is a match that could decide the destiny of the championship but Strachan confessed he was struggling to focus on football matters at this time.

"I can't think that way just now. Football is a long second now compared to this. We have a couple of days to really think about Tommy and we will do that. We will train on Friday and then we get on with playing football again. We will all know how lucky we were that Tommy was a part of our lives."

McManus, who worked under Burns both in the youth set-up and in the first team, spoke glowingly of a man who had time for everybody regardless of their status. "I have spoken to the players and they are all numb. A few of the lads had known for some time that he wasn't keeping well but he came in to the training ground as if everything was fine.

"He made sure no-one was feeling sorry for him. He was as brave a man as we will ever know and will be badly missed by all of us, not just as a coach but as a person. For me it's been a pleasure to know him for eight years. You just can't help but love him to bits.

"When he came back to Celtic I was just a tadpole in the ocean but he could make you feel like the most important person in the world. Tommy was a special man. There will be people all around the football world feeling as bad as we are right now. He was a one-off. There will never be another Tommy Burns."

Lawwell paid tribute to a man he described as "one of us". "Tommy battled bravely against this terrible disease but unfortunately it took him in the end. Today we lost a coach and the head of the youth department but more importantly we lost one of this club's favourite sons.

"If you define a Celtic man then Tommy Burns fitted the bill. He was a wonderful human being. Tommy also transcended the football world and the divide in this city and you can see that outside by the tributes that are coming in from every club.

"That takes a very special person. Personally it was a privilege to work alongside him. His energy, his enthusiasm, and his love for this football club were an inspiration.

"He really loved Celtic. The football world will mourn the passing of a very special person. He will go down in history as a Celtic legend."