Connor sues Caps

By The NewsDay | Oct. 3, 2012 | 3 Min read

THE relationship between Sean Connor, the former Caps United Football Club coach, and co-directors of the club Twine Phiri and Farai Jere, irretrievably broke down this week with the Northern Irishman suing his former paymasters for US$122 000 for breach of contract.

Report Tawanda Tafirenyika Sports Correspondent

After several weeks of investigations, NewsDay Sport finally stumbled on a confidential document yesterday showing that the matter has now spilled into the Labour Court after the two parties failed to reach common ground on the amount of benefits to be paid to the coach.

Connor was fired just over a month ago following a spate of dreadful results.

According to the document, the matter is set to be heard tomorrow.

Caps, who were represented by vice-president Jere in the negotiations, had maintained they were prepared to pay Connor $15 000 up to December 31, 2012. The benefits package which the former Caps United coach wants takes into consideration the average winning bonuses and damages.

Connor and his representatives believe Caps United’s handling of the matter had been shabby and that the termination of his contract was unprocedural and unilateral as it was announced to the media before he was officially advised.

Connor was, however, still willing to compromise to a figure of $50 000 which would come down to about $35 000 minus salaries which had been paid. The Northern Irishman, who joined United at the beginning of the season, was on a $4 000 monthly salary, making him one of the best paid coaches in the country.

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But Connor, who was fired from the club following the team’s defeat to Hwange – their fourth successive loss – appeared to have a great vision in his assessment of the team, but lacked support from his employers.

He had signed a two-year contract with United which was to be reviewed every year with the next renewal due at the end of the current campaign in December. His target was to take the team to at least a top-four finish this season, but the Caps hierarchy was not happy with the performance of the team and decided to terminate the contract although the coach maintained the target was still achievable notwithstanding the lengthy barren spell.

According to one of the documents authored on January 31 this year and presented to the club directors, Connor appeared to suggest that the working environment at the club was mechanical as his assistant Lloyd Chitembwe, whom he replaced on his appointment, was not happy with his new role as assistant.

He also suggested he was not getting support from his employers as he battled to achieve his objective of turning around Caps United into a force to reckon with and highlighted the weaknesses of the team, including the technical staff, after its return from South Africa for a pre-season tournament.

“I feel at this moment that Lloyd is finding it difficult to assume the role of assistant manager. Also the other members of the staff still defer with him, at least at this moment in time. The appointment of captain on Saturday night came as a complete surprise to me as it was not fully discussed.

“The player that I had suggested was ruled out immediately. I will keep an eye on the situation, but if it develops as my experience will lead me to believe, the outcome will not be good.

“This issue will need to be addressed as soon as possible.

“Of the other members of the staff, the only other problem I see is Kennedy (Nagoli),” said Connor in his assessment of the technical staff.

He also presented his report to his superiors on his assessment of the departments of the whole team. Efforts to get a comment from Connor and his management team were fruitless yesterday.

Jere could also not be reached for comment. But the club’s chief executive Maxwell Mironga said he could not comment as the matter was now subject to litigation.

“I can’t comment on the issue because it is being handled by the lawyers. His lawyers and our lawyers are handling the matter,” Mironga said.