Celtic purchase of Lennoxtown not corrupt or fraudulent, watchdog says

[Bearman 9]

http://news.stv.tv/west-central/1333550-celtic-purchase-lennoxtown-not-corrupt-or-fraudulent-watchdog-says/

 

A watchdog has found no evidence of corruption or fraud in relation to Celtic's purchase of its Lennoxtown training ground.

 

Financial watchdog Audit Scotland did, however, highlight a number of concerns over weaknesses in the processes used to monitor finances by public bodies involved in the sale of the land in Dunbartonshire to Celtic and by the club itself.

 

A probe was launched by the body in March into payments made between a number of public bodies and Celtic Football Club plc over its training ground. The Parkhead club's Lennoxtown facility was built in 2007 and cost 8.5m.

 

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, who owned the land, East Dunbartonshire Council, and the Lennoxtown Initiative (LI), a charity set up set up by the council and the NHS to regenerate the area in 2002, were at the centre of the investigation along with Celtic itself.

 

Audit Scotland became involved after receiving a number of complaints about value-for-money public spending.

 

The training complex was built on the site of the former Lennox Castle Hospital to replace the clubs dilapidated Barrowfield training ground near Celtic Park in the east end of the city.

 

The club paid NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde nearly 493,000 for the land in June 2006.

 

The report states: "We have not identified any evidence that the purchase of the Lennoxtown site or the transfer of funds from LI to Celtic was either fraudulent or corrupt.

 

"However, there are a number of weaknesses in the SLA itself, and a lack of monitoring arrangements by the LI and the public bodies of the services provided, that make it difficult to demonstrate the links between the fees paid and the value or quantities of service provided.

 

"This creates an environment in which accusations of fraud or corruption are more easily made and are more difficult to rebut."

[calscot 0]

Sounds like, "we can't prove wrong doing but we know they were at it"...