Lucy Ward describes Cellino’s Leeds as ‘Toxic’
While Massimo Cellino was busy dodging her latest tribunal hearing, Lucy Ward revealed that the club had offered to re-instate her, and why she turned them down.
At an earlier hearing an employment tribunal found that Ward had been unfairly dismissed, with the judge ruling that Cellino had instructed that she should be sacked, and that she had been the victim of sex discrimination. Ward successfully argued that she had been forced out because she was the partner of Neil Redfearn.
Today the court re-convened to decide on the level of compensation. Cellino was supposed to be there to give further evidence, but decided to give it a miss, and according to his barrister, Lucy Bairstow this was because of the amount of media interest in the case.
"When he came to building he observed the number of press who had attended again in relation to the hearing and he felt unable to give evidence. He was very concerned about all the press attention and effectively, but for the press attendance, would be sitting in here know. He has left the tribunal building. In those circumstance I would simply ask you to tender his statement in evidence.”
Once the hearing had begun it emerged that Cellino had offered to re-instate her, in a letter that apologised for mistakes made by the club. But Ward turned the offer down, as she thought that the apology was "damage limitation" rather than a genuine expression of regret. "It's a toxic environment in there now, I don't think anyone could seriously expect me to go back. He knew what he was putting me through."
It’s disappointing hear this, but since Cellino has been in charge there have been a number of former employees who have made similar comments about the state of the club behind the scenes. This comes at a time when we should be optimistic about the coming season after the appointment of a bright young head coach, but we still have to fear that Garry Monk will be undermined by events off the field.
By all accounts Monk has impressed the playing staff by the way he has gone about his job since he was appointed, but clearly the same cannot be said about the man at the very top. In seems that we need to have one more change in a senior position before the club can really move forward.
What to read next:
Southampton V Bournemouth The PreviewSaints take on the Cherries in the New Forest derby, although given the name, most Southampton fans care more about who has the best trees in their half of the forest, than how Bournemouth are doing.
Southampton V Bournemouth In Pictures Part 2The second part of our pictorial view of the Cherries visit to St Mary's takes us from 2018 up to the present day, how many of the games and the players who took part, do you remember, give your memories in the comments section below.
Southampton V Bournemouth In PicturesThe first of a two part pictorial view of The Cherries visits to St Mary's in the last decade, there have been so many players who have come and gone over the past 10 years, there will be a few forgotten faces, how many will you remember after this memory jog.
Are Things Far From Ok In The Southampton Camp ?The win at Ipswich last weekend, prompted hope that Ivan Juric was finally moving his team in the right direction, but the days following that win have perhaps exposed frictions that seem to lie within the camp.
Southampton V Burnley The FA Cup VerdictThis should have been a game that brought a little life relief to Southampton supporters, instead it was possibly the worst performance that we have produced this season, it had little hope for the future either this season or next.
Southampton V Burnley In PicturesHere we take a look back at some of the clashes with Burnley at St Mary's and remember a few old familiar faces, what are your memories of these games & the players, give your stories here.
Southampton Announce Appointment Of New Technical DirectorAlmost a year after Jason Wilcox left St Mary's to join Manchester United, Saints have finally appointed his replacement, many Southampton supporters would say that this is perhaps the main reason why we are now certain to be relegated.
Southampton V Burnley The FA Cup PreviewSaints take on one of the best teams in the Championship as the worst team in the Premier League, a good gauge of the big gap between the two divisions now, so which one will come out on top and get the chance to be ritually slaughtered at Anfield, The Etihad or another Big 7 club.