Football: Celtic appeal dismissed by SFA: No reprieve for Glasgow club while Stevens signs for Tranmere

(First Edition)

THE intricate web of legal and financial wrangles bedevilling Celtic at the moment shows no sign of unravelling itself after yesterday's decision by the Scottish Football Association to uphold a pounds 100,000 fine for 'poaching'.

The original fine was imposed by the Scottish Football League for the way in which Celtic procured the services of their manager, Tommmy Burns, formerly in charge at Kilmarnock. Celtic are now obliged to pay the fine to the League within the next 14 days, unless they carry out a threat to pursue legal action.

Jim Farry, the SFA chief executive, said after yesterday's 2 1/2 -hour meeting in Glasgow: 'Celtic's appeal has been dismissed. The decision is final and binding.' Peter Donald, the Scottish League secretary, said: 'Celtic have 14 days to pay the fine. We hope this is the end of the matter.'

But Fergus McCann, Celtic's managing director, said: 'The matter has been referred to our legal advisors, who are considering what our next step should be.'

Kilmarnock themselves are keeping their lawyers on call as they continue to seek compensation. A spokesman for the club said: 'We will let the football authorities pursue all avenues of the issue. But if no compensation is obtained we will resort to whatever means we see fit to get it.'

McCann, meanwhile, could face court proceedings after parting company with his coach Tommy Craig on Monday, while on Tuesday his former manager Lou Macari issued a summons claiming pounds 431,000 as 'damages for wrongful dismissal'.

To make matters worse, three of Macari's staff, Chic Bates, Ashley Grimes and Peter Henderson, are still on the Celtic payroll, although they have not worked for weeks, and to pay them off could cost as much as pounds 250,000.

Across the city, Rangers bade farewell to Gary Stevens yesterday. The 31-year-old former England right-back who has been on loan to Tranmere Rovers for a month became the Merseyside club's record signing at pounds 350,000.

The Liverpool manager, Roy Evans, has told the former Arsenal midfield player Michael Thomas that he will not be allowed to leave the club on a loan basis.