Gus Poyet settles Employment Tribunal claim against Brighton Football Club

Gus Poyet has reportedly settled his claims for unfair dismissal, wrongful dismissal and accrued but unpaid wages against Brighton Football Club.

Mr Poyet was dismissed from his role as manager of Brighton Football Club in June 2013 after an unspecified disagreement with the board of Brighton Football Club. He subsequently commenced proceedings for unfair dismissal, wrongful dismissal and accrued but unpaid wages in the Employment Tribunal. However, it has now transpired that Mr Poyet, who took up the role of manager at struggling Sunderland last month, has now settled his Employment Tribunal claims against Brighton, having decided to “draw a line” under the claims. It was reported that no compensation changed hands under the settlement (which would either have been in the form of a COT3 agreement or a settlement agreement) but that Mr Poyet agreed to withdraw his claims on a “drop hands” basis (i.e. that neither side would be responsible for the other’s costs).

Poyet’s legal representative released the following statement after the withdrawal of the claim: “In relation to Mr Gus Poyet’s departure from Brighton Football Club, both Mr Gus Poyet and Brighton Football Club have now reached a settlement whereby Mr Gus Poyet has withdrawn his employment tribunal claim. Mr Gus Poyet would like to take this opportunity to express his sincere thanks to Brighton Football Club and in particular the fans for the tremendous support received during his time as manager at Brighton Football Club. Mr Gus Poyet wishes both Brighton Football Club and the fans well for the future.”

There does not appear to have been any comment as yet from Brighton Football Club.

Chris Hadrill, an employment solicitor at Redmans, commented on the case: “It is quite common for claims to be withdrawn on a ‘drop-hands’ basis if the Claimant no longer believes that the claim has prospects of success or decides to withdraw the claim for another reason. A line has now, as Mr Poyet wished, been drawn under this matter.”