Sacked football chief's tribunal may last a month

An industrial tribunal involving sacked Irish Football Association chief executive Howard Wells could last up to four weeks, it emerged today.

Mr Wells, 61, is claiming unfair dismissal and race discrimination after he lost his £100,000 (€112,500)-plus a year post last October.

No details were given at the time of the reasons for the Englishman’s departure from Northern Ireland football’s governing body.

John O’Hara QC, representing the IFA, told the Belfast tribunal hearing: “It is estimated on both sides that this has the potential to be a lengthy hearing, in the region of four weeks. That is certainly a real possibility.”

The full hearing is scheduled for November and legal counsel at today’s case management discussion were keen to ensure it did not coincide with any World Cup qualifier play-offs.

Representatives have to decide exactly what issues are in dispute.

Mr Wells was chief executive of the IFA from November 2004 to last year. He said after his dismissal that he was still awaiting reasons for the decision.

The complaints which he wants the tribunal to consider include: unfair dismissal; race discrimination; breach of contract; right to be accompanied to a disciplinary/grievance hearing and failure to pay wages.

IFA president Raymond Kennedy and Mr Wells were present for today’s 20-minute hearing.

Barry Mulqueen, barrister for Mr Wells, said he wanted to agree a timetable. Witness details, the exact issues to be heard by tribunal president Eileen McBride and which documents will be revealed still have to be agreed.