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Ex-Fulham Manager
Jean Tigana |
Fulham have been ordered to pay Jean Tigana £455,000 after an employment tribunal ruled in their former manager's favour.
The tribunal, responding to an application by Tigana, decided the London club had unlawfully docked Tigana two months' wages at a rate of £125,000 per month and failed to pay him a £200,000 bonus for claiming a place in the UEFA Cup and £5,000 in rent allowance.
The Frenchman was replaced by Chris Coleman on 17 April this year, two months before his three-year contract was due to expire.
Jean Tigana took Mohamed Al Fayed's club to an employment tribunal in Croydon. A three-person panel at the London South Employment Tribunal Office heard evidence from Tigana and Fulham some 3 weeks ago.
The tribunal, which was chaired by John Warren, who sat with lay members Lisa Campbell and Alan Jenkinson, wrote up their reserved judgement and post it to the two parties - a process which could have taken up to four weeks.
Tigana, was claiming £2.5m in unpaid wages and bonuses, said in a statement to the tribunal: "The only explanation I was offered was in a lawyer's letter.
"It appeared to suggest I'd already been remunerated very well for my services and they could not afford to do so. In the last few months, I felt I was fighting against people who wanted to drive me out of Fulham."
Fulham FC later issued a statement regarding the dispute between FFC and Jean Tigana.
Since the court has not, as yet, had the courtesy to convey its decision to us it is difficult for the club to give a considered response.
However we have been advised by leading counsel that in the event of the decision going against us we have strong grounds for appeal and that is the course of action we intend to take.
It is worth noting that this case is a preliminary one and represents just one of the many issues in dispute between Jean Tigana and Fulham Football Club including the club's substantial claims against the former manager.
These issues have yet to be heard by any court and will be coming before the High Court in London and a court in France in due course.