Haughey denies wishing to buy Desmond’s Celtic shares

A LEADING Scottish businessman has dismissed reports that it is looking to buy Dermot Desmond’s stake in Glasgow Celtic football club.

Willie Haughey, a millionaire businessman in the city, denied moving to take a controlling interest in Celtic from Mr Desmond, who owns 20.5% of the club’s shares. Mr Haughey is a former director of the club, but was removed by chairman Fergus McCann.

He has recently pulled out of Scottish league club Livingston prompting speculation that he had met with Mr Desmond at his luxury Sandy Lane resort in Barbados last month to discuss the cost of the transaction. This would then allow Mr Desmond to make a bid for Manchester United and bring Celtic’s manager with him to replace Alex Ferguson.