City challenge Royle pay-out

February 21, 2005

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FIRED: Joe Royle

MANCHESTER City were today launching an appeal against the '500,000 compensation award to ex-boss Joe Royle.

The club is asking three Appeal Court judges to overturn a ruling by the High Court in Manchester.

Judge Michael Kershaw decided last summer that the former Blues manager should receive '422,819, plus '65,000 in legal costs.

He said Royle, now manager at Ipswich, should have been given a Premiership-style "golden handshake" when he was sacked in May 2001.

The club argue that Royle was fired after it was relegated, so he was only due a First Division pay-off of '150,000.

Fraction

But the Manchester court decided that even though City had just finished the season in a relegation position, the club was technically not demoted until their Premiership "share" was transferred later.

Royle, 55, sued the club when he received only a fraction of the pay-off he claimed he was due as a Premiership manager.

He was sacked four days after losing the final league match against Chelsea on May 19, which meant City finished third bottom. The club already knew it was mathematically impossible for them to stay up after losing to Ipswich on May 7.

Royle's contract stipulated that, in addition to his '300,000 annual salary, he would receive an extra '400,000 bonus if City were still in the Premiership when he left.

His lawyer argued it was clear that share documents showed the club was still in the Premiership up until June 6, and that City had "jumped the gun" in trying to dismiss him with a lower payout.

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The Pope, Rome (21/02/2005 at 16:08)

He's trying to get what he's "technically entitled to", but can he honestly say he deserves it? He was not a Premiership manager because that means your team stays in the Prem. Wasn't he sacked for incompetance? He's showing himself up and has well gone down in my estimations.

Judge Judy, in court (21/02/2005 at 17:16)

I would like to sue Mr Royle who stated several times we were to good to go down but we still went down.

Zgnibnyab Zxbygnya, From a Cave on a Mountain in Bosnia (21/02/2005 at 18:02)

I am a caughten 'bang to rights on CNN' Serbian militia gangster wanted by the War Crimes Commission isn't it! Thees ees seeryous bizzinezz! I would be very grateful to be given the address and email of Joe Royles lawyers. I theenk they are my only hope!

(go on MUN - dont be mushy! priint it, it s fun!!)

Sajid CTID, Bolton (22/02/2005 at 12:29)

My, how we are going to ENJOY turning Dipswich over next year if they manage to get promoted this year - looking likely and now I actually want them to, just so that we can give Mr. Royle the welcome he deserves when Dipswich come to the COMS. You are a disgrace, Royle, a flipping disgrace!!!!

MG, Burnage (22/02/2005 at 12:39)

It's a joke that he was "entitled" to B#150,000 when we were relegated. Not blaiming the club but the culture to reward failure in football baffles me. I'm grateful to Joe and his management team for turning the rudderless ship they inherited but he made so many mistakes that season I can't find any sympathy for him in this claim. It just seems to be about money and that's really sad when you've had a B#300k salary.

Alphonso, Izzet City (22/02/2005 at 13:51)

So Sajid, you wont be supporting my appeal to build a statue to Joe at the COMS then?

Mr Wiskas, backwards with ernie (22/02/2005 at 23:12)

If you build a statue surely it wont be to replace kerplunk as the rusty metal spikes look fantastic as we have to walk round the fences protecting us just in case its blown over in a strong wind. I dont want Ipswich to win the title as my money was put on Wigan before the start of the season. To Ernie from virgina I've never heard of Joe Royle, thought i'd say it before you did. Read my message again regarding Franny Lee and you will see I was commenting on his bad spell as chairman not on his footballing abilities.

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