Deans face court and a battle to control Falkirk FC

disgruntled shareholders continued their legal battle to oust them from

the club.

It was confirmed yesterday that brothers George and Paul Deans and

their father Hamish will appear at Falkirk Sheriff Court on April 25.

George Deans faces five counts of embezzlement and two charges of

fraud while acting for Falkirk FC.

His brother Paul is charged with embezzling #9893.90 while employed as

cashier with the first division club.

Their father Hamish faces two charges of embezzlement and three of

fraud in connection with the running of the club.

Complaints were served on the three at homes in the Borders this week

at the request of the procurator-fiscal at Falkirk, Mr George Scott. The

move follows an 18-month police investigation.

Mr Hamish Deans and his son George between them hold a 56% majority

shareholding in the club.

Yesterday they issued a statement confirming they had received

citations to answer complaints at Falkirk Sheriff Court next month.

''These will be met with a complete and vigorous defence,'' the

statement said.

The two directors also denied that they planned a boardroom coup in

their war with minority shareholders.

The shareholders, whose ultimate aim is to get rid of the Deans, had

gone back to court yesterday after club chairman Campbell Christie, the

STUC secretary, and Jim Johnston, another minority representative, were

unexpectdly ousted by the Deans at last week's annual meeting of the

club.

The minority shareholders who believed the Deans wanted to pack the

board with their supporters sought an interim interdict at the Court of

Session to prevent directors being co-opted by the family.

It was a continuation of action instigated last year when the

shareholders raised a petition at the Court of Session, seeking various

orders and claiming that the Deans as majority shareholders were acting

in a manner prejudicial to the company and minority shareholders.

A compromise was reached before Lord Cullen which involved the

appointment of a neutral chairman and Mr Christie was appointed.

But after his removal at last week's annual meeting, the shareholders

went back to the court to stop the Deans co-opting their own candidates.

At yesterday's hearing before Lord Johnston it was disclosed that an

undertaking had been given by the Deans that they would not co-opt board

members, other than Mr Christie or Mr Johnston.

Lord Johnston pronounced interim interdict which prevents Hamish or

George Deans, or anyone acting for them, from moving the co-option to

the board of anyone other than Mr Christie and Mr Johnston.

Yesterday's statement by the Deans claimed there had never been any

intention of co-opting any other board members. Mr Christie and Mr

Johnston had simply failed to be re-elected.

The solicitor acting for the disaffected shareholders, Ms Maureen Cree

of R.G. Marshall and Co in Grangemouth, yesterday pledged that legal

moves would continue.

''The ideal situation would be if an order could be made from the

court to rescind the decision made at the AGM and restore Mr Christie

and Mr Johnston,'' she said.

The aim of the shareholders group is to get a court order which would

force the Deans to give up their shares.

Mr Deans Sr has 100 shares and his son George has more than 144,000

shares.

The club's company secretary, Mr Sandy Moffat, an Edinburgh lawyer,

said yesterday that it was business at usual at Brockville despite the

latest wrangles.