A sixth Celtic Boys’ Club coach is at the centre of child sexual abuse claims.

The Record has seen a ­statement – given under oath – by a man now in his late 50s describing how he was repeatedly abused by the man in the early 70s.

He has since visually identified the perpetrator through a Celtic Boys Club (CBC) photo.

This newspaper knows the accused’s identity and cannot name him for legal reasons. But when we approached him at an address in Glasgow, he denied the accusations.

And he claimed people are being encouraged to make allegations.

(Image: Ross Turpie)

It comes after four men associated with Celtic or CBC – including Jim Torbett and Frank Cairney – were convicted of historical sex abuse against children, while a fifth alleged ­perpetrator is yet to face justice.

In his sworn statement, the man says he was abused at Barrowfield, the then training ground of Celtic FC.

He said: “The sexual abuse occurred during midweek training. The abuse occurred in the changing rooms at Barrowfield. I can recall this ­occurring on many occasions.”

The statement claims that other boys were being abused in the same way at the same time.

It says: “The pretext for telling one of the boys to remain with him in the changing rooms was to put oil on the boys’ legs to protect them from the cold.

(Image: UGC)

On multiple occasions, coach XXXX told me to stay behind with him in the changing rooms…

“The oil had a strong, pungent, almost medicinal smell. My ­recollections of the changing room during the abuse was of a dark place as if the main lights had been switched off and a small lamp switched on.”

The statement detailed how the victim – 10 or 11 at the time – had his clothing removed and that the oil was rubbed on to his private parts.

It added: “I recall staring at the floor at my underwear/shorts in a state of ­absolute terror. I distinctly recall feeling absolutely petrified.”

The coach denied the allegations. He said: “I never touched anyone like that. I’m not that type of person.

“I was interviewed by the police two-and-a-half years ago and that was the end of it. They said I was free to leave the police station.

“They told me the name of the boy who made the allegations against me. I said I didn’t know that name.

“As sure as God’s in heaven I’m innocent of this. We’re all being tarred with the same brush. People are being encouraged now to come forward with ­allegations like this.

It is unfair, because people will say there is no smoke without fire.”

His comments to us suggest claims of abuse involving Torbett were known as far back as 1973.

He said: “I first heard about ­allegations like this involving Torbett when a meeting was called in 1973 at the boys’ club. They explained to us what had been done, it would be 1972 or 1973.

(Image: Daily Record)

“Torbett was off the scene for a while but then came back. I never thought that sort of thing was going on. I loved being with the CBC. But now it is the worst thing that’s ever happened to me. I only used ­wintergreen on the boys if they had muscle tightness.”

The Record ­understands the ­criminal case against him has not proceeded because of a “lack of corroboration”.

The complainer told lawyers he was abused repeatedly and that other boys were attacked by the same man.

A photo from 1973, obtained by the Record, shows the coach posing with boys at a cinema night out.

It was taken at the Studio Cinema in Glasgow and shows an outing which was part of the Cine Club at CBC, a club set up by Torbett, who is now serving six years in jail.

It is suspected the Cine Club was a way of allowing further contact with boys.

Another image of the coach, from the 80s, shows him alongside Torbett and Cairney in a team shot.

The Record has also obtained a letter to Celtic FC’s lawyers from Thompson’s Solicitors – who are representing the man – detailing the claims of abuse and seeking damages.

In May, we revealed that Celtic FC investigated and cleared boys’ club leaders in 1986, describing claims against them as “scurrilous”.

This is at odds with Celtic FC’s previous contention that the two were entirely separate entities and that concerns over the boys’ club leaders only arose in the 90s.

Celtic FC then revealed they had been carrying out a new two-year ­investigation into the abuse claims.

Torbett, 71, the founder of CBC, CBC coach McCafferty, 73, and Cairney, 83, were jailed last year.

Gerald King, 66, a former CBC chairman, was convicted of abusing four boys and a girl but avoided jail.

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Last year, the club said they were conducting their own investigation.

In letters to two MSPs, chief ­executive Peter Lawwell said the club’s insurers had appointed a “wholly independent and experienced lawyer” to investigate.