The founder of Celtic Boys' Club Jim Torbett branded the men accusing him of historic sexual abuse as liars.

The 71-year-old is accused of abusing two former youth players and another boy between 1986 and 1994.

Torbett denies all the allegations and gave evidence in his defence at the High Court in Glasgow on Wednesday.

He said it wasn't true that he asked the boys to call him 'big man', adding that legendary Celtic manager Jock Stein was called the same thing.

Torbett said: "I'm sure he didn't ask Celtic players to call him 'big man'."

He described an accusation made by one man that he was made to dry himself in front of Torbett as "something out of fairytales".

Torbett, from Kelvindale, told the court the boys in the club were disciplined and well-mannered.

Advocate depute Sheena Fraser asked if the discipline came from him and he said not always.

She put to him: "You liked the boys to call you 'big man'."

Torbett replied: "That's a nonsense. I was a big man, at that time I was a lot bigger than now, it just became 'big man'.

"I didn't ask any of the boys at any time to call me 'big man'."

He added: "I think the late Jock Stein was called 'big man'. I'm sure he didn't ask the Celtic players to call him 'big man'."

Mrs Fraser asked about the first of the three men who have made allegations about Torbett when he was a youth player with the boys' club.

Torbett said: "He's telling lies, it did not happen."

Mrs Fraser asked if he accepted that a man of his age at the time, and his position as football manager that it would have been wrong to touch the boy sexually.

Torbett replied: "Certainly would be, yes."

A second man, who wasn't a youth player with Celtic Boys' Club, earlier gave evidence that he was abused in the Trophy Centre, which Torbett owned, as a five-year-old child.

When asked if the jury should accept that the man came to court and "made up hideous lies" about him, Torbett said: "Absolutely."

He was asked about the allegations made in police statements by a third man and former youth player, who died last year in a swimming accident.

The man claimed Torbett abused him in his car, his home and at the Trophy Centre.

Mrs Fraser put to him that he had done this.

Torbett replied: "So he says. It didn't happen."

The complainer also alleged that Torbett had him dry himself in a certain way after he showered, and that Torbett would signal to let him know if somebody was coming.

Torbett told the court: "It's something out of fairytales this, it didn't happen."

Mrs Fraser said: "The reality is you used your position being manager of these boys in the team that they played for, to abuse them."

He answered: "Absolutely not."

The prosecutor continued: "You used your position to gain their trust and abused them."

He replied: "You're saying that, but it didn't happen."

The trial before judge Lord Beckett continues.