CELTIC legend Tommy Burns has lost his battle with cancer, Celtic said today. The club's 51-year-old first-team coach originally contracted skin cancer in 2006.

CELTIC legend Tommy Burns has lost his battle with cancer, Celtic said today.

The club's 51-year-old first-team coach originally contracted skin cancer in 2006. He received treatment, but the disease returned in March.

The former Scotland international Burns, who spent 15 years as a player at Parkhead and also managed the club for three seasons, had been undergoing treatment in both Glasgow and France in recent weeks.

A statement from Celtic on their official website said: "It is with great sadness that Celtic Football Club confirmed this morning that Tommy Burns has passed away.

"Tommy, a true Celtic legend and wonderful man will be sadly missed by us all.

"Clearly, our thoughts are very much with Tommy's wife Rosemary and his family at this extremely difficult time."