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Details
Name: Chris White
Director: 1981-1994
Ref: Biscuit Tin board member during the Celtic Takeover days
Note: Largest shareholder at Celtic at point of Celtic Takeover in 1994
Overview
(This ‘overview’ section is an original article from Not the View fanzine)
The largest shareholder in the club in 1990
Chris White had had family connections with Celtic since 1906. His grandfather was Thomas White who was appointed a Director then and became Chairman of the club in 1914. Chris White became a Director of the club in 1981 at the same time as Jack McGinn, but he had worked as Secretary at the club since 1976. He had been educated at St. Joseph’s, Dumfries between 1963-70 and went on to Strathclyde University to study Arts and Accountancy. His major spheres of influence were in club finance (part of biscuit-tin mafia) and stadium stewardship. White was responsible for policing the ticket returns.
Somewhat more of a Macciavellian eminence-gris, Chris White always had the appearance of being able to stab one in the back at the drop of a scapular.
In a ‘Save Our Celts‘ Rally, lauded lawyer Joe Beltrami opened up proceedings reading out a disparaging letter from Chris White. The letter stated that the rally would “serve little purpose and simply cause embarrassment to the Club“. If you were to ever describe Chris White’s efforts at the club, then you could use the same line!
For real escapism, and a jolly good laugh, you only had to follow the court case featuring Terry Cassidy vs. Celtic FC. Our former CEO was suing Celtic for damages having been sacked. You must remember Terry, our erstwhile Chief Executive with the manners of a Rottweiler and all the charm of a zookeper’s welly? He was claiming £143,000 damages for breach of contract after he was dismissed with a year or so left on his contract. The Celtic board decided to defend itself, counter-claiming that Cassidy was guilty of grave industrial misconduct. And if you think that’s rich coming from the Celtic board of the time then stick around. There’s better to come.
So, who do you call upon to defend the honour of the club when the going gets tough and you know you’re in for the verbal equivalent of ten rounds with Chris Eubank? None other than our very own diffident public school milksop Chris White. He spent the whole of the first day of the trial sanctimoniously reciting a litany of Cassidy’s misdemeanours. The directors, it was revealed in court, were none too happy when Terry burst into a cosy soiree they were attending with their wives at Hampden as guests of the SFA. Our Chief Exec hadn’t been told about this particular social event but decided to go anyway, proceeding to demand a seat for himself and partner. When they asked him to make himself scarce he called White a ‘bastard’ and called the others ‘a bunch of women’. As if this wasn’t bad enough, according to White Cassidy had been insolent to the directors, wasted club money and had given jobs within the club to members of his family, whereas Chris had only committed two of these sins. He was never insolent to anyone on the board!
If you’re thinking that this all seems a bit ridiculous in view of the past performance of the directors themselves then you can imagine that Cassidy’s brief, Ian Bonomy QC, must have been approaching the prospect of cross-examining Chris with all the relish of Derek Johnstone at a pie eating contest. Under interrogation White was forced to conceded that rather than a club run by a hard-nosed bunch of corporate high flyers, ‘Wives played a leading role in the club.’ As his cross examination wore on White was warned by the judge about being evasive and eventually had to admit that he, ‘May have misled the court.’ It was a truly remarkable case, and a true indication of how strapped for cash the club was. I mean for the sake of a few thousand quid to shut Cassidy up or risk all your dirty washing hung out in public.
For a club like Celtic it shouldn’t even be a choice.
Additional info
(as written by TheCelticWiki contributors)
Chris White in retrospectives gets a tough time from the general support, and he didn’t help his case. Few quotes or interviews has meant that critics (and that accounts for the majority of the support) have painted him poorly as a toff, aloof, arrogant and incompetent. So it is difficult to be able to provide a counter-argument especially as he has kept his counsel.
However, it must be added that Chris White must be given some credit for one key point. It was he in particular who acted to shoot down the Robroyston stadium move as proposed by board member Brian Dempsey, a move that few if any now feel would have been the correct decision (including Celtic Rebel investor David Low). If it wasn’t for Chris White (primarily) then that plan could have gone ahead. It doesn’t necessarily mean that Celtic should never move from Celtic Park, but more that if the club were to move then it should be to the right place with the right terms & conditions.
Brian Dempsey hasn’t always covered himself in glory since the Celtic Takeover, and most of the good press on him were from sycophants with little reason to dictate about finance to anyone (like tabloid & TV football journalist Gerry McNee).
Chris White in that sense deserves some credit, but as we can see from all else at the time he will get little other credit. As the major shareholder (by far the largest holding), it was he and his cohorts who should have grasped the nettle and took a lead. Yet he didn’t, and the club teetered to a near ignominious end.
Post-Notes
(as written by TheCelticWiki contributors)
Sadly, Chris White has been said to have mostly steered clear of Celtic since the exit at the end of the Celtic Takeover, and has avoided all the limelight. In fairness to him, it is his prerogative how to handle the events post-Takeover, and it was a tumultuous time and a major emotional drain for all who were involved. He has not since been part of any interviews on the whole time, in contrast to various of his colleagues over the years who have also continued to go to Celtic to attend matches.
The past is the past, and we hope that Chris White feels comfortable returning to Celtic Park to view a game, and then possibly give his side of the story. There are reports that he has been to the odd game since his departure from Celtic.
We may not agree with what he says, but the club has progressed and life has moved on. It would be fair to listen to his side too, if he ever wishes to give it, although we should respect him if he opts to remain & keep it all private.
The departure of Chris White, son of former chairman, the late Desmond White, on the final day of the Celtic Takeover in 1994 meant that one of the three family dynasties which had ruled over Celtic for 106 years had gone, to be followed soon by the others. He had an estimated 14.25% holding of Celtic pre-Takeover, which made him the most significant shareholder. Note that he was given £300k for his shares on his departure as against £900k possible earlier, so as a measure you could use this to argue that he held out for reasons that were to cost him.
Fellow board member Tom Grant in a retrospective in 2024 on The Celtic Takeover, noted that he felt that Chris White was bullied by fellow board member Michael Kelly. One opinion, but Chris White had to take responsibility for his own actions.
We don’t wish Chris White any ill, and as his family has played a large part historically in the club’s history, we hope that he with his family can feel they will always be a part of the club even if now simply as supporters attending the matches cheering on the first team.
Quotes
“I thought that Michael Kelly was a bit of a bully towards Chris White…. Chris didn’t like confrontation.”
Tom Grant (2024)
