Tag Archive for: Sacked

Groundsmen Sacked After Team leak

Groundsmen Sacked After Team leak: Employees of Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club claim they were unfairly dismissed in a “witch-hunt” after a team selection was leaked online.

Three members of ground staff were allegedly denied disciplinary hearings or reasons for their sacking on Friday.

Groundsmen Sacked After Team leak

The GMB union said the dismissal “stinks” and called for Brighton to reinstate workers.

Brighton, which recently retained Premier League status, said it would not comment on the incident.

The club announced team selections were being leaked from October 2018.

Ex-deputy head groundsman Ashley Smith, 34, said he was taken into “private meetings” and questioned along with his colleagues from April.

The meetings were not recorded and the employees were allegedly told “they were helping with the inquiry”.

“It was a dream job that has been taken off me for no reason,” he said.

“I have a family mortgage and it’s going to have a massive impact on my whole life. I haven’t been sleeping since.”

GMB branch secretary Mark Turner said: “No evidence has been found or presented by the club during this near three-month investigation which links our members to the supposed social media team leaks, yet they dismiss our members without notice.

“This just stinks and considering this club prides itself on its commitment to the standards, values and expectations set by the Premier League, the way they have treated their staff throughout this witch hunt is simply deplorable and unfair.”

The GMB and Mr Smith said the workers had appealed against the decision and union is taking legal advice.

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Groundsman Sacked Over Racist Tweets

Groundsman Sacked Over Racist Tweets: A former Lincoln City groundsman has been sacked by the football club after a series of offensive tweets surfaced.

Ashley Barratt was dismissed 12 hours after the club were made aware of the tweets, following an investigation.

Groundsman Sacked Over Racist Tweets

Barratt’s tweets were posted online between September and October 2017, before he became an employee at the club.

In a series of disgraceful racist tweets, Barratt referred to members of the Muslim community as ‘a cancer’, claimed they were ‘taking over Europe’ and referred to London, Birmingham, Leeds, Bradford and Manchester, which all have high Muslim populations, as ‘hellholes’.

Mr Barratt has since deleted his Twitter account.

His actions were brought to light by a number of different anti-racist groups and activists on Twitter including Resisting Hate.

A spokesperson for Lincoln City said: “Lincoln City Football Club was recently made aware of certain racial comments made by a club employee on social media which were potentially inflammatory and discriminatory in nature.

“These comments were made prior to the person in question becoming an employee of the club, however, Lincoln City Football Club does not condone racism in any form, on or off the field, and any behaviour of this type by anyone connected with the Club is totally unacceptable.

“The club have since undertaken a full investigation into this matter, as a result of which the employee has been dismissed from their position.”

Kick It Out confirmed that they were aware of the tweets and had reported the matter to the FA and Lincoln City Football Club.

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Sacked Groundsmen ‘Shell-Shocked’

Sacked Groundsmen ‘Shell-Shocked’: The former KCOM Stadium groundsmen were unfairly dismissed by SMC, but the company does not have to pay the pair any compensation.

An employment tribunal has ruled that two sacked former KCOM Stadium groundsmen should not receive any compensation for losing jobs.

Sacked Groundsmen 'Shell-Shocked'

Long-serving pair Mark Harrison and Darrell Cook were sacked by the SuperStadium Management Company (SMC) in June.

They took their case for unfair dismissal to an employment tribunal hearing in October.

Three days before the hearing, the SMC conceded it had acted unfairly in dismissing the two men.

The concession was made on the basis that the company had not properly followed employment law during its internal disciplinary process.

However, during the four-day tribunal, the SMC argued it should not have to pay any compensation because the mens’ actions still justified immediate dismissal.

The company claimed Mr Cook carried out part-time work as a kitman for Hull FC during his normal SMC working hours.

It also alleged Mr Harrison, as his supervisor, allowed it to happen.

At the hearing, Mr Cook said he always carried on his Hull FC duties outside of SMC time.

The two men were able to mount an appeal case thanks to a crowd-funding campaign on social media.

Tribunal judge Rita Rogerson’s decision was to both parties earlier this afternoon.

It is expected to be officially published next week.

Ruling out compensation, her report is thought to conclude that Mr Cook was working for Hull FC during his SMC hours.

Neither the SMC or Mr Harrison or Mr Cook was available for comment.

However, a source close to the men said: “They are a bit shell-shocked.

“They technically won their appeal after the concession of unfair dismissal but are naturally disappointed at not being award compensation for losing their jobs.”

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