Best's son in legal threat over memorabilia sale
George Best's son has threatened High Court action after revealing a deepening family rift over the sale of his father's soccer memorabilia.
Calum Best, 29, hit out at his aunt Barbara McNarry after the Manchester United footballer's trophies and mementoes were sold for £193,440 (€221,200) to help pay off his father's debts.
A fall out with Mrs McNarry, the sole inheritor of her brother's estate, has widened.
Today she rejected criticism of the sale as "inaccurate, offensive and heartbreaking".
"It has also been made quite clear that the selling of George's memorabilia was a decision made by the executor of the will and sadly was beyond my financial control," she said.
"Calum is fortunate to be in possession of a unique piece of George's memorabilia.
"I have been left in a position that, despite being the primary beneficiary of my brother's will, I am left with very little to remember him by except for fond memories of a very special and much loved brother."
Calm's father left him an expensive watch in his will. They lived apart for much of the young model's life as his US-based mother Angie split from the footballer because of his heavy drinking.
Calum Best told of his concern at Barbara and her husband Norman's action.
"I'd thought perhaps she hadn't been in touch to give me my birthright because she was waiting to see how my life was turning out," he said.
"But I didn't even know about the auction of my dad's things. My mum saw it on the news."
He told the Daily Mail: "My father never gave me a cent my whole life."
"Norman has said that he and Barbara are going to the court to make sure everything to do with my father is theirs, his name, his image, everything. Well I'm going to do the same.
"This is my legacy, these are my heirlooms. How can Barbara not see how I feel as his son? She may have no legal obligation to share my father's estate with me but surely she must feel a moral obligation?"
The most coveted item of the 13 lots put up for sale by Best's estate, his 1968 European Cup winners` medal, fetched £156,000 (€178,387) while his 2002 BBC Lifetime Achievement Award went for £7,800 (€8,919) at Bonham's auctioneers in Chester last Thursday.
Mrs McNarry established the George Best Foundation which works to provide funds for research into illnesses associated with alcohol misuse and investing in young people to encourage a healthier lifestyle. So far, the Foundation has invested £100,000 (€114,312) in medical research and £130,000 (€148,605) in sport-based youth initiatives and other projects, at home and abroad.
She added: "Despite all the trials and emotional challenges of the five years since George passed away our main focus is to ensure his legacy lives on through the work of The George Best Foundation."
