Kevin Keegan wins £2m damages claim
Oct 2 2009 by The Journal
FORMER Newcastle United manager Kevin Keegan has won £2m in damages after he was constructively dismissed by the club.
The Toon legend went to the Premier League Manager's Arbitration Panel for compensation after he said he was forced out of the club over the signing of Ignacio Gonzalez, which he claimed was without his say-so.
A statement from the Premier League Manager's Arbitration Panel said: "We are satisfied that Mr Keegan left the Club (i.e. resigned) because the Club sought to impose upon him a player, namely Gonzalez, whom he did not want, in breach of the term in his Contract which we have found entitled and required him to have the final say. This was his evidence, which we accept, and it is supported by the timing of his resignation."
Here are the main findngs of the ruling:
:: Keegan was awarded £2m, having claimed for almost £25
:: The Ignacio Gonzalez transfer was the straw the broke the camel's back for Keegan. He was told to watch the player on You Tube by Dennis Wise, according to the Tribunal.
:: According to witnesses to the tribunal, the club did the Gonzalez deal as a favour to two South American agents.
:: The tribunal was told that Keegan knew that Dennis Wise was coming in and he'd have final say on transfers.
:: Gonzalez - despite costing £1million in wages - was never expected to play in the first team.
:: Keegan always had a rocky relationship with Dennis Wise and Jeff Vetere - despite the club consistently denying it in their official publications.
:: The club claim it was "blindingly obvious" from his contract that Keegan not get final say on transfers - although the Tribunal rejected that.
:: The Tribunal condemned the club for lying in public statements about Keegan's role - saying it was "storing up trouble" for the future
:: Both parties wanted the judgement to be made public - and Keegan is now free to talk about his final days at St James's Park.
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