LAWYERS were last night examining an article in the latest edition of the official Celtic Football Club magazine, the Celtic View, after managing director Fergus McCann launched an attack on people he accuses of undermining him, writes Chris Starrs.
Mr McCann pointed the finger at what he termed the ''PR stunts'' of Brian Dempsey, a former director and shareholder who is central to moves to buy out Mr McCann's holding in the Scottish League champions.
Using the whole of the page usually named Jock Talk, where general manager Jock Brown reviews the past week, Mr McCann named former Celtic and Scotland star Charlie Nicholas, Sunday Mail editor Jim Cassidy, Scottish Television commentator Gerry McNee, PR adviser Jack Irvine, and Mr Peter Rafferty, chairman of the Affiliation of Registered Celtic Supporters Clubs, as being among those who were part of what he called Mr Dempsey's ''self-promotion'' campaign.
Last night, Mr Nicholas said he was taking legal advice, and it is understood others named in the article were also consulting lawyers.
In the article, Mr McCann said: ''It is now clear that Brian Dempsey's plan is to attack the management of Celtic using a barrage of criticism and PR stunts.''
He added: ''Interestingly, Mr Dempsey - who has sold all his shares in Celtic at high prices resulting from the club's progress - is now lecturing me as to how I should act regarding my shareholding in a year's time.''
q Celtic confirmed last night it was appointing Japanese-owned Nomura International to act as joint financial adviser with Greig Middleton & Co in preparation for the disposal of part or all of Mr McCann's shares and Celtic's move from the junior alternative investment market to a full listing on the Stock Exchange.
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