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Chris White

(from Not the View)
The largest shareholder in the club in 1990

Chris White had had familly connections with Celtic since 1906. His grandfather was Thomas White who was appointed a Director then and became Chairman of the club in 1914. Chris White became a Director of the club in 1981 at the same time as Jack McGinn, but he had worked as Secretary at the club since 1976. He had been educated at St. Joseph's, Dumfries between 1963-70 and went on to Strathclyde University to study Arts and Accountancy. His major spheres of influence were in club finance (part of biscuit-tin mafia) and stadium stewardship. White was responsible for policing the ticket returns.

Somewhat more of a Macciavellian eminence-gris, Chris White always had the appearance of being able to stab one in the back at the drop of a scapular.

In a 'Save Our Celts' Rally, lauded lawyer Joe Beltrami opened up proceedings reading out a disparaging letter from Chris White. The letter stated that the rally would "serve little purpose and simply cause embarrassment to the Club". If you were to ever describe Chris White's efforts at the club, then you could use the same line!

For real escapism, and a jolly good laugh, you only had to follow the court case featuring Terry Cassidy vs. Celtic FC. Our former CEO was suing Celtic for damages having been sacked. You must remember Terry, our erstwhile Chief Executive with the manners of a Rottweiler and all the charm of a zookeper's welly? He was claiming £143,000 damages for breach of contract after he was dismissed with a year or so left on his contract. The Celtic board decided to defend itself, counter-claiming that Cassidy was guilty of grave industrial misconduct. And if you think that's rich coming from the Celtic board of the time then stick around. There's better to come.

So, who do you call upon to defend the honour of the club when the going gets tough and you know you're in for the verbal equivalent of ten rounds with Chris Eubank? None other than our very own diffident public school milksop Chris White. He spent the whole of the first day of the trial sanctimoniously reciting a litany of Cassidy's misdemeanours. The directors, it was revealed in court, were none too happy when Terry burst into a cosy soiree they were attending with their wives at Hampden as guests of the SFA. Our Chief Exec hadn't been told about this particular social event but decided to go anyway, proceeding to demand a seat for himself and partner. When they asked him to make himself scarce he called White a 'bastard' and called the others 'a bunch of women'. As if this wasn't bad enough, according to White Cassidy had been insolent to the directors, wasted club money and had given jobs within the club to members of his family, whereas Chris had only committed two of these sins. He was never insolent to anyone on the board!

If you're thinking that this all seems a bit ridiculous in view of the past performance of the directors themselves then you can imagine that Cassidy's brief, Ian Bonomy QC, must have been approaching the prospect of cross-examining Chris with all the relish of Derek Johnstone at a pie eating contest. Under interrogation White was forced to conceded that rather than a club run by a hard-nosed bunch of corporate high flyers, 'Wives played a leading role in the club.' As his cross examination wore on White was warned by the judge about being evasive and eventually had to admit that he, 'May have misled the court.' It was a truly remarkable case, and a true indication of how strapped for cash the club was. I mean for the sake of a few thousand quid to shut Cassidy up or risk all your dirty washing hung out in public.

For a club like Celtic it shouldn't even be a choice.

Links

• Celtic Takeover
  

Source

• Not The View http://www.ntvcelticfanzine.com/the%2090s/90s9394pt6.htm