Soccer manager loses action

BOHEMIAN Football Club’s sacked manager Sean Connor lost his High Court action yesterday for an injunction to have his salary paid until the case concerning his dismissal is heard.

The court was told Mr Connor earned €100,000 a year as manager and claimed he had a contract up to the end of the 2009 season.

Mr Justice Frank Clarke said that for a mandatory injunction, a strong case must be established. Mr Connor had a relatively short contract, ending in 2009, and a new manager was in place.

It seemed Mr Connor would face a very uphill struggle in persuading the trial that he was entitled to be put back in as manager. There was not a strong case that he would succeed in getting reinstated.

“There is little reality in a reinstatement”, said the judge, adding that it seems the reality was this claim was going to be about damages.

Mr Justice Clarke said that on current evidence, there seemed to be strong grounds for suggesting there was justification for the dismissal but nothing at this stage should be construed as indicating a definitive view.

While Mr Connor was dismissed in late December, it was three months before the matter came before the court. The judge was concerned about the partial explanation given for the delay and, for that reason alone, would not be prepared to grant the interlocutory injunction.

Mr Justice Clarke said he would put in place measures to ensure an early trial and he put the case in for mention again on May 8.