Celtic's stars dedicate their SPL title win to lost Bhoy Burns

The Celtic players lacked neither motivation nor desire as they hunted down Rangers in pursuit of a third straight title.

Last night, having cavorted on the pitch wearing T-shirts emblazoned with words of support for the first-team coach they laid to rest just two days earlier, they were united in relief and joy.

Another cup: Celtic boss Gordon Strachan salutes the fans with a T-shirt bearing a picture of Tommy Burns

Midfielder Paul Hartley said: "That win was for Tommy. His death just made us more determined. We didn't want to go through a summer branded as failures, so we'll enjoy being champions but there's no doubt we won it for Tommy. And Gordon Strachan is a fantastic manager, that's what this title win says about him.

"He's a very good coach, a man-manager and makes his players believe. He believed we could win and it showed. We hope the manager will be here next year because he has built a very good team. He's the first boss since Jock Stein to win three titles in a row and that's a great achievement.

"Getting straight into the Champions League is good for the finances, too. Hopefully we can add to the squad."

Respect: Rangers players observe a minutes' applause in memory of Tommy Burns ahead of the match at Pittodrie

Hartley was especially thrilled for captain Stephen McManus, who inherited the armband from Neil Lennon at the start of this campaign, then had to deal with the deaths of Motherwell's Phil O'Donnell, a close friend, and former mentor Burns.

"Myself and Stephen had a chat today and we knew we would do it," Hartley said. "It has been hard for him as a young captain. He followed Lennon and it's a fantastic achievement.

"He's a strong man and had to deal with the death of two friends in football. He'd known Phil for a long time and Tommy had been his coach for a long time  -  since he was a kid. I'm sure that makes winning this trophy all the sweeter.

"He has grown into it and, after a difficult start when the team was taking stick, he has weathered it.

"Six weeks ago, when Motherwell beat us, everyone had written us off but I knew we were a good team with a good spirit. If we could win every game, we could put pressure on Rangers  -  and we showed a lot of bottle to do that.

"I could have predicted this before our Rangers doubleheader because I could see the belief was there. The character of the players convinced me.

"We couldn't win a game in December, lost at Ibrox and then lost to Motherwell. But we're a tight bunch and knew we could put a run together.

"What have I learned about my team-mates? That they're a joy to play with. That I can trust them when I cross that white line."

Party time: jubilant Celtic players show off the SPL trophy after their Tannadice victory

Defender Gary Caldwell added: "It has been a really tough week. Tommy was a great man and a great coach, a friend to all of us. He would have loved tonight. This one is dedicated to him and his memory. We did it for him.

"Every title is enjoyable but, when so many people write you off, criticise you and want to have a pop, it's all the sweeter.

"To stick together and win seven on the spin shows how big a team we are, that we have big characters and big men.

"We always knew the two Rangers games were big. To have the courage to win both shows that we deserve the title.

"We knew it was in our own hands but this was always going to be a tense night. The cheer from the supporters just before our goal really settled us down because we then knew things were going our way in the other game.

"It was always going to get edgy but then that cheer told us what was going on. Afterwards, the manager just thanked us. He did say this was the greatest achievement he had seen from a group of players, to be as far back as we were then win it."