TonyK
CibbuanoSaints reneged on hush money: Thomas
May 15th 2008 02:35
ST KILDA reneged on a deal to pay coach Grant Thomas $100,000 hush money after his sacking, a court has heard.
Thomas told Melbourne's County Court on Wednesday the sum was to be part of a package that included an upfront $270,000 and an agreement to hide from fans and the public that his contract had been terminated.
Thomas was sacked after the Saints lost the 2006 elimination final to Melbourne.
The board wanted Thomas not to disparage St Kilda, and he did not wish the club to disparage him or his family.
Thomas was informed by Butterss, Fraser and Mark Kellett, then director of football, that his services were no longer needed at a meeting at Butterss's Brighton home.
The board wanted him to say he was resigning, but Thomas said they'd look like fools because he had no reason to resign.
"We agreed we would say we had agreed to part company," he told the court. In return, the club had agreed to immediately pay out six months of his contract, plus $100,000 in April if he'd sign a "non-disparaging" clause and keep to it.
"It was an ankle rope. A 'keep your mouth shut' type agreement," Thomas said.
But within days the board began to back-slide, he said, wanting him to sign a 12-page termination deed. The club eventually decided agreement could not be reached and did not pay the hush money.
Thomas has sued St Kilda for $272,000 he claims he is owed in contractual payments and leave.
Thomas said he took no leave in his last three years and there was a long-standing dispute over leave entitlements.
Days before the elimination final, chief executive Archie Fraser interrupted a meeting with his assistant coaches, insisting he sign a document relating to holidays.
Thomas said he signed, threw away his copy and said, "Can we move on?'."
The paper, which Thomas signed, waived his rights to any claims for outstanding annual, sick and public holiday leave.
The court heard he did not know the board had already decided to sack him if they lost.
Cross-examined by the Saints' QC Leslie Glick, Thomas denied Fraser had told him three months earlier that the board was "livid" about his holiday claim and thought it fictitious and opportunistic.
Matthew Stirling, for Thomas, said his client became full-time coach in 2002 and by the time of his fourth contract was on $540,000 a year, with bonuses of $30,000 if the club made the top four, $75,000 if they made the top two, and $100,000 for a premiership.
The hearing continues today.
Thomas told Melbourne's County Court on Wednesday the sum was to be part of a package that included an upfront $270,000 and an agreement to hide from fans and the public that his contract had been terminated.
Thomas was sacked after the Saints lost the 2006 elimination final to Melbourne.
The board wanted Thomas not to disparage St Kilda, and he did not wish the club to disparage him or his family.
Thomas was informed by Butterss, Fraser and Mark Kellett, then director of football, that his services were no longer needed at a meeting at Butterss's Brighton home.
The board wanted him to say he was resigning, but Thomas said they'd look like fools because he had no reason to resign.
"We agreed we would say we had agreed to part company," he told the court. In return, the club had agreed to immediately pay out six months of his contract, plus $100,000 in April if he'd sign a "non-disparaging" clause and keep to it.
"It was an ankle rope. A 'keep your mouth shut' type agreement," Thomas said.
But within days the board began to back-slide, he said, wanting him to sign a 12-page termination deed. The club eventually decided agreement could not be reached and did not pay the hush money.
Thomas has sued St Kilda for $272,000 he claims he is owed in contractual payments and leave.
Thomas said he took no leave in his last three years and there was a long-standing dispute over leave entitlements.
Days before the elimination final, chief executive Archie Fraser interrupted a meeting with his assistant coaches, insisting he sign a document relating to holidays.
Thomas said he signed, threw away his copy and said, "Can we move on?'."
The paper, which Thomas signed, waived his rights to any claims for outstanding annual, sick and public holiday leave.
The court heard he did not know the board had already decided to sack him if they lost.
Cross-examined by the Saints' QC Leslie Glick, Thomas denied Fraser had told him three months earlier that the board was "livid" about his holiday claim and thought it fictitious and opportunistic.
Matthew Stirling, for Thomas, said his client became full-time coach in 2002 and by the time of his fourth contract was on $540,000 a year, with bonuses of $30,000 if the club made the top four, $75,000 if they made the top two, and $100,000 for a premiership.
The hearing continues today.
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