TWO Chorley men along with ex-Bolton Wanderers manager Sammy Lee and other senior football figures have appeared in court to face perjury charges relating to a legal battle over a £1million transfer deal.

Agent Tony McGill, 56, is bringing a private prosecution against Bolton Wanderers chairman Phil Gartside and others from the club, as well as top agent Jerome Anderson and others from his SEM firm, and the ex-midfielder Gavin McCann.

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The case surrounds a protracted legal battle over McCann’s transfer from Aston Villa to Bolton Wanderers in 2007, with McGill claiming he was cut out of the deal.

Agent Stephen Horner, 49, from Brindle, near Chorley, faces two counts of perjury.

Bolton secretary Simon Marland, 55, from Chorley, faces five counts of perjury and one of false representation.

Lee, 55, from Liverpool, and now a coach at Southampton, was manager of Bolton Wanderers at the time.

following a spell as part of Sven-Goran Eriksson’s England coaching team.

The private prosecution came before District Judge Stephen Earl, sitting at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court. No pleas were entered and the case was sent to Newcastle Crown Court where it will be heard in a fortnight.

Lisa Judge, representing the defendants from Bolton Wanderers, said: “There will be an application to dismiss forthwith.”

The SEM defendants were represented in court by barrister Saba Naqshbandi.