CELTIC have told of its "deep regret" after a second former Celtic Boys Club leader was jailed for sexually abusing young footballers.

Jurors had taken two hours to find Frank Cairney, 83, guilty of abusing eight teenagers after a trial at Hamilton Sheriff Court in December.

Now Cairney has been jailed for four years after being convicted of nine charges of molesting young boys at football clubs he ran between 1965 and 1986.  

He was found to have abused the teens while running St Columba's Boys Guild in Viewpark, Lanarkshire, and the under-16s team at Celtic Boys Club.

The club said: "Although Celtic Football Club is an entirely separate organisation to Celtic Boys' Club, we wish to express our deep regret that these incidents took place, as well as our sympathy for the victims who suffered abuse.

The Herald:

"We are grateful for the courage of those who have come forward to report abuse and to give evidence after such a long period of time. We have great respect for them and their families as they continue to cope with the distressing effects of the abuse they suffered.

"The abuse of children is an issue affecting many areas of society, including a large number of football clubs, youth organisations, educational institutions and religious bodies across Britain.

"Celtic Football Club strongly believes that children and young people involved in football have the right to protection from all forms of harm and abuse and is committed to ensuring this and to promoting their well-being through continued co-operation with our children and young people, parents and carers and the relevant authorities."

Cairney, 83, became the third ex-Celtic Boys Club coach to be convicted of child abuse and the second to be given a prison sentence.

The Herald:

In November, Boys Club founder Jim Torbett (above) was jailed for six years, after being convicted of sexually abusing three boys over an eight-year period. His victims included youth players Kenny Campbell and Andrew Gray, who had waived their right to anonymity.

Another coach, and former Celtic Boys Club chairman, Gerald King, was convicted in December of abusing boys at a school and was given a three-year probation order.

Cairney joined Celtic Boys Club in 1971 after being asked to run the youth side by legendary manager Jock Stein.

During the trial, the court was told he molested youngsters in a church hall, in his car and at Celtic's Barrowfield training ground.

One of the victims, who was abused in the early 1970's, launched a civil case against Celtic FC with Thompsons Solicitors.

Cairney had dismissed the charges describing the allegations as "ludicrous2 and told the jury his time as a coach was full of "golden memories". But he was convicted at Hamilton Sheriff Court following a trial.

Sheriff Daniel Kelly QC who praised the courage of the victims said Cairneyt was a "wolf in sheep's clothing".

The Herald:

Celtic Boys' Club was founded by Torbett in 1966 with the permission of the then Celtic FC manager, the late Jock Stein and former chairman Sir Robert Kelly.

It was created as a separate entity from the football club, but it has been closely linked throughout its history and acted as a feeder club, producing a string of Celtic players including Roy Aitken, Paul McStay and Tommy Burns.

Torbett was jailed for two years in 1998 on conviction of abusing three former Celtic Boys' Club players, including former Scotland international Alan Brazil, between 1967-74.