Buzzin Championship Football

keegan awarded damages

Kevin Keegan has won his case against Newcastle United for constructive dismissal from the club, and has been awarded £2million plus interest in damages.

The Premier League managers arbitration panel decided that in signing Uruguayan midfielder Ignacio Gonzalez, against Keegan’s wishes, the club were in breach of a term in his contract.

Keegan left Newcastle in September 2008 following the signing of Gonzalez on the final day of the summer transfer window on August 31st. The official report of the case concluded that;

“The “commercial interests”, according to the Club, were that the signing of the player on loan would be a “favour” to two influential South American agents who would look favourably on the Club in the future. The loan deal cost the Club nearly £1m in wages for a player who was not expected to play for the first team but no payment was made by the Club to the agents in respect of the deal.”

An obviously relieved Keegan made the following statement:

“I am delighted that the Premier League manager’s arbitration tribunal has today formally announced that it has upheld my claim for wrongful dismissal against Newcastle United. The tribunal has found the conduct of the club in forcing a player on me against my wishes represented a fundamental breach of my contract of employment.

I do not believe that there is any manager in football who could have remained at the club in the light of their conduct. I also want to confirm that a central purpose of my claim has always been to clear my name and restore my reputation. I consider it of vital importance that I was able to let people know about the full circumstances of my resignation and the way in which I had been treated by the club. I hope that this purpose has now been achieved.”

Newcastle United have so far made no comment on the outcome of the case.