Disillusioned Leeds United fans may have to wait for big transfer news this summer; the club has to settle costly tribunals first!
The Championship club have been ordered to pay former academy welfare officer Lucy Ward £290,000 following her employment tribunal victory against the club.
Ward was judged to have been unfairly dismissed after arguing that the club’s owner Massimo Cellino sacked her because she was the partner of former manager Neil Redfearn.
Leeds claimed Ward lost her job, having been there for 17 years, because she took an excessive amount of holiday in order to work as a commentator for the BBC at the 2015 Women’s World Cup in Canada.
Ward told the Yorkshire Evening Post: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank my legal team Richard Cramer and Martin Williams of FrontRow Legal for their support and guidance. A special mention to my brilliant barrister, Nick Randall QC of Matrix Chambers, who recognised the injustice I suffered and argued it simply and skilfully on my behalf.
“And finally a thank you to all Leeds United fans and people who have taken the time to send their best wishes and support to me throughout. To my Mum, brother, friends, and in particular my partner, Neil. I could not have done this without you.”
Ward will receive £127,229.81 from the club over the sex discrimination and £5,525 over her unfair dismissal. The club have also been ordered to pay Ward’s legal costs, which are said to be in the region of £100,000.
