THE MANAGEMENT of Celtic Football club was criticised last night after the club tried to interfere with a play about its history.
The row broke out a week after the producers turned to former club director Brian Dempsey for #200,000 backing to allow The Celtic Story to go ahead when talks with Celtic stalled.
After Mr Dempsey stepped in, Celtic wrote to producer Eddie Crozier complaining about the use of the club badge and logo in an advert for the show, to be staged at Glasgow's Pavilion Theatre from July.
The letter, from commercial director David Kells, also asked for assurances that the play, first shown in 1988 to mark Celtic's centenary, would not be re-written to bring it up to date. Mr Kells said the club, which does not own the rights to the play, was ''disturbed'' by reports that it was being updated to reflect the last 10 years in Celtic's history.
However, producer Eddie Crozier said: ''It's quite disappointing that they think they can interfere with the intellectual rights of the authors.
''I have no real argument with Celtic Football Club ... but this reflects the hierarchy of the club.
''They think they are going to be reflected badly in the updated version. But the opposite is true, we are going to celebrate what has happened to the stadium and what they have achieved.''
He added that the club badge and logo would not be used in any more promotional material.
The writers, Dave Anderson and David MacLennan, dismissed the request and said the ending of the play would have to be re-written. Mr Anderson said the club had no legal right to ask the authors not to alter their work. He added: ''I am surprised that they are 'disturbed'. I can't understand why they are. We are talking about a club that has been turned around in the last few years and the current management have played their part in that.
''I think the fans would feel short changed if we didn't bring it up to date.''
Referring to the original deal with the club to stage the play in 1988, when Celtic won the league and Scottish Cup in their centenary year, Mr Anderson added: ''We didn't tell them how to win the league and they didn't tell us how to write the show, and I think that should be the case now.''
He said: ''It's just a silly request, and we just can't agree with it. I don't think there is a legal leg to stand on. I really can't think why they are asking us to do such a thing. It isn't as if the club has the rights to the script. It's a hasty and ill-thought thing to do.''
David MacLennan said the club was possibly worried about being reflected badly because of recent controversy over the departure of head coach Wim Jansen just 48 hours after Celtic won their first League Championship in 10 years.
''The club has been going for about 110 years, so perhaps they are getting it a wee bit out of proportion. I don't think boardroom battles make for great drama.''
Brian Dempsey said: ''I am extremely sad and disappointed at this incomprehensible attitude. I thought we had left these dark days behind us in 1994. The Celtic supporters and Celtic community deserve better.''
No-one from Celtic was available for comment last night.
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