HOOPS INSIST CAIRNEY WAS NOT EMPLOYEE 'FANTASY'

Celtic access tax records of boys club beasts to 'prove they never worked for club'

- ALAN McEWEN

CELTIC FC will be given access to the tax records of two coaches who sexually abused young football players in a bid to prove they never worked for the club.

Lawyers for the Parkhead side asked for permission to scrutinise private Inland Revenue information on Frank Cairney and Jim Torbett.

Ian Mackay KC, acting for the survivors, claimed Cairney, was "employed" by Celtic and cited a letter of resignation the shamed coach allegedly sent.

But Celtic said any belief of Cairney that he was an employee of the club was a "fantasy".

A judge granted the document access request during a hearing at the Court of Session in Edinburgh yesterday.

The hearing forms part of a US-style "class action" lawsuit brought by around 25 survivors of historical abuse at Celtic Boys Club.

Celtic has repeatedly claimed the boys club was a separate entity from the football club.

But players who turned out for the feeder side say they are intrinsically linked, as they pursue a multi-million pound damages claim against Celtic.