THEIR professional relationship lasted 24 years and three-and-a-half days at an employment tribunal.
Celtic FC and Brian Scott, the club's former physiotherapist, yesterday brought their legal battle to a close by reaching a deal that satisfied both parties.
The surprise move followed evidence given yesterday morning by Mr Scott, when he admitted breaching strict confidentiality rules. He was claiming unfair dismissal and breach of contract after being sacked on August 18, 2003.
Rod McKenzie, Celtic's solicitor, said lunchtime discussions on the fourth day of the hearing had resulted in both parties reaching a deal.
''The action by Mr Scott will be dismissed following an agreement by both parties. The tribunal will be continued for six weeks to allow the agreement to be documented. Following that, an announcement will be made by the tribunal.''
Mr Scott looked relieved as he left the tribunal, but refused to comment. He had admitted under cross-examination from Mr McKenzie in the morning that he had breached strict confidentiality agreements by revealing the details of players' injuries to a company that had offered him a lucrative financial deal.
Mr Scott passed on information about treatment he gave to Stilian Petrov and other first-team players to the manufacturers of a treatment machine he was in negotiations to endorse.
He also admitted he had tried to persuade Celtic to buy one of the (pounds) 15,000 phy-back physiotherapy machines without telling his employer about his proposed deal with the company.
It emerged that Mr Scott had been in talks with the company to endorse the machine and that his accountant had suggested a (pounds) 25,000-a-year retainer plus 5% royalties on all sales.
Questioned by Mr McKenzie, Mr Scott admitted he had leaked the confidential information to Liz Kane, chairwoman of Biomedical Innovations, the UK distributor of the machine.
When asked by Mr McKenzie if he considered the release of the information to be a breach of trust, Mr Scott agreed.
''Yes, it was a breach of patient confidentiality. And it was also a breach of trust to the club. The information, yes it was confidential, but I understood it would remain confidential,'' he said.
Earlier in the week, it emerged that Celtic had not followed proper disciplinary procedures when dismissing Mr Scott. There were claims that Mr O'Neill sacked Mr Scott after he turned up for work drunk several times.
Roddy MacDonald, the club doctor, told the hearing that drinking was one of several complaints against Mr Scott. But Mr O'Neill stressed drunkenness was not an issue in relation to his sacking.
Mr Scott had broken down twice the previous day while giving evidence as he tried to describe the moment his 24 years with Celtic had ended. Michael McMillan, the tribunal chairman, adjourned the hearing as Mr Scott held his head in his hands and wept.
Mr Scott denied allegations of drunkenness at work while on a US tour with Celtic.
On Tuesday, Mr O'Neill said Mr Scott had held Celtic ''to ransom'' by threatening to write a book detailing personal information on players. He told the tribunal that Mr Scott had listened to players' tales of sexual activities while he treated their injuries.
Mr O'Neill claimed Mr Scott said he could earn (pounds) 250,00 by selling his story or by writing an book about his time at the club. He said: ''He'd been there 24 years. He'd have plenty to write about. I felt we were being held to ransom if we didn't cough up.''
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