Sligo midfielder Doyle-Hayes sues Hibs over injury caused by manager's tackle

Sligo Rovers’ Jake Doyle-Hayes. Pic: Evan Logan/Inpho

Ex-Ireland U21 midfielder Jake Doyle-Hayes is suing his former club Hibernian over an injury he suffered in a tackle by his then-manager.

Doyle-Hayes (26) lodged a compensation action against the Scottish Premiership club at the Court of Session in Edinburgh on Wednesday.

His legal team claims the midfielder's career had been "greatly restricted" by the ankle issue sustained in a tackle by Lee Johnson in 2022.

The Cavan native is currently at Sligo Rovers, whom he joined in February, but his representatives insist in their case: "Jake's career has been derailed by mismanagement and ineptitude. A career has been lost to this athlete."

Doyle-Hayes joined Aston Villa as a trainee, moving on to play for St Mirren in Scotland. He spent four years at Hibernian, making only 69 appearances, due to his playing time “being hampered by injury over the last two seasons".

This stemmed from what Thompsons Solicitors described as "horrific injuries" suffered in the incident during the training session, leading to surgery on his ankle.

They argue that, without the injury, his career would have continued at a higher level.

A figure of compensation being sought wasn’t disclosed, only that the potential loss of earnings was substantial.

Joel Shaw, partner at the firm, said: "The impact of this has greatly restricted his career.

"These injuries should never have happened and were incurred due to incompetent and incoherent decisions made by his manager.

"Jake's career has been derailed by mismanagement and ineptitude. A career has been lost to this athlete."

Johnson was sacked by Hibs in August 2023. A Hibs spokesperson told the BBC they were aware of the claim.