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CHELSEA FC FACES EMPLOYMENT CLAIM
25 June 2008
Today is day two of the Employment Tribunal Hearing of Paul Smith, the former Group Business Affairs Director of Chelsea FC. He is pursuing the club for unlawful wage deductions amounting to a significant six figure sum.
The money relates to salary, benefits and bonuses unpaid since the beginning of Mr Smith’s employment and agreed upon in February 2007 between Mr Smith and Peter Kenyon, Chelsea’s Chief Executive who will be among those testifying at the Tribunal.
If settlement cannot be reached Mr Smith shall also be pursuing a claim in the High Court for damages for his notice period and other sums due which would take the total value of is claim to seven figures.
Chelsea conceded unfair dismissal earlier this year and an Employment Tribunal gave judgment to this effect and ordered Chelsea to pay the maximum compensatory award for a claim of its type, £60,600.
Harriet Bowtell, solicitor at the award-winning Employment Law Team Russell Jones & Walker www.rjw.co.uk/employment, who acted on behalf of Paul Smith said today:
“Having put Chelsea back on track since he joined the club in 2003, our client has been rewarded with being sacked unfairly, without any notice and by the club breaching an agreement to pay him a significant 6 figure sum for past monies due. Having been forced to take this matter to the Employment Tribunal, our client now hopes that Chelsea will finally have to face up to its obligations.”
Paul Smith comments:
“I worked tirelessly for Chelsea Football Club and delivered clear results. I am confident that the Tribunal will ensure that I am rewarded for the work that I did according to the agreement between myself and Peter Kenyon.”
Background to the case:
Paul Smith joined Chelsea FC in September 2003 as interim Chief Executive. When Peter Kenyon took on the role permanently in 2004, Mr Smith became the Group Business Affairs Director. He was summarily dismissed on 27th July 2007. In May 2008, following an admission from Chelsea, the Employment Tribunal gave judgment that Mr Smith had been unfairly dismissed and he was awarded a total of £61,995 in compensation.