CELTIC have attempted to block their former midfield player John Collins signing for Monaco. The Glasgow club have sent a letter, signed by their lawyer, to the French first division team demanding compensation for the out-of-contract player who walked out on them at the end of the Scottish season.

It was just 24 hours before he headed for the United States with Scotland on tour that Collins finalised his deal with the French giants.

It was a package which will make the Scottish internationalist a millionaire, but one that left Celtic in the post-Bosman football world without a transfer fee for someone who had cost them #1m from Hibs.

Quite simply, the Bosman ruling says that any player whose contract had ended is free to move without a transfer fee being involved, as long as the move is within the European Union.

That is where Celtic have based their claim. The letter to Monaco says the Principality is not a signatory to the Treaty of Rome, and therefore the judgment on Bosman does not apply as far as they are concerned.

Monaco, however, are members of the French Football Federation. They play in the French first division, and they are regarded as ``French'' by the world governing bodies FIFA and UEFA.

The Riviera club believe they have acted properly over the Collins signing and are angry now that they have been challenged in this way by a club with Celtic's credentials.

A spokesman told me yesterday: ``We cannot believe Celtic would act in this way.

``We have done everything within the new rules governing transfers, and have done nothing wrong. It is not in the interests of the game to be accused of acting badly when you have not done so.''

Collins signed for Monaco after rejecting a re-signing deal offered to him by the Parkhead club. He is now in Monaco preparing for the new season.

Monaco, I understand, are being supported by both UEFA and FIFA in this latest hassle in which Celtic have become involved.

Earlier last season, Collins was a #2m transfer target for Everton, but eventually Celtic did not sell him to the Goodison Park club and the player held on until his contract ended.

He then won himself a deal with Monaco, which will earn him close to #3m over the next four years.

This is not the first time Celtic have found themselves in dispute with other clubs and associations.

Indeed, they are already being investigated by FIFA over the use of an alleged unauthorised agent in the signing of Alan Stubbs from Bolton.

This time, the Collins deal will stand, and Celtic will not get the money they are looking for. Instead, they will lose face in the international football community once more.

EXCLUSIVE