Keogh Sacked by Derby

p1akuw47h5r3it · 30-10-2019 9:50pm #1

Keogh's been sacked by Derby:

Richard Keogh has been left distraught after Derby sacked him on Wednesday. The club captain sustained serious knee ligament injuries when he was in the car that his teammate Tom Lawrence crashed into a lamppost after a boozy night out on 24 September.

Keogh, 33, has had surgery and is expected to be out for 12-14 months, giving him a return date of the end of next year. His contract, under which he was paid £24,000 a week, was set to expire in June 2020

Career possibly over and out of 24000 grand a week. Will miss the Euro's if we get there. He's paid a heavy, heavy price.

citytillidie · 30-10-2019 9:55pm

Need to make way for Rooneys wages

Cookiemunster · 30-10-2019 9:55pm

At his age Keogh should have known better than to get wasted and get into the car that night, but it's a bit odd that the passenger in a car crash who got badly injured in said crash gets sacked, while the two drunk drivers who caused the crash and then fled the scene continue to be employed.

godtabh · 30-10-2019 10:06pm

a bit harsh that the other lads only got 6 week fines. If only he was younger/not injured and of some value to Derby!

is_that_so · 30-10-2019 10:07pm

Cookiemunster wrote: »

At his age Keogh should have known better than to get wasted and get into the car that night, but it's a bit odd that the passenger in a car crash who got badly injured in said crash gets sacked, while the two drunk drivers who caused the crash and then fled the scene continue to be employed.

180 hours community service each and fined 6 weeks wages. He was the club captain and higher standards apply there.

Arghus · 30-10-2019 10:08pm

He's the author of his own misfortune, but it does seem like a cynical move by Derby to save some cash.

banie01 · 30-10-2019 10:10pm

is_that_so wrote: »

180 hours community service each and fined 6 weeks wages. He was the club captain and higher standards apply there.

That's not a standard that would be accepted as fair due process in any employment tribunal Mr Keogh cares to take the matter to though.

Whilst he may be out 24k a week for now, its only a temporary issue.
Awful way for his career to finish, but extremely poor employee handling by Derby.

BoJack Horseman · 30-10-2019 10:10pm

Very harsh given that the actual perpetrators got a relative slap on the wrist.

PARlance · 30-10-2019 10:10pm

Court case there I imagine.

fyfe79 · 30-10-2019 10:10pm

Bit cynical of Derby not to help with his medical recovery, even.

is_that_so · 30-10-2019 10:13pm

banie01 wrote: »

That's not a standard that would be accepted as fair due process in any employment tribunal Mr Keogh cares to take the matter to though.

Whilst he may be out 24k a week for now, its only a temporary issue.
Awful way for his career to finish, but extremely poor employee handling by Derby.

For sure. I doubt it will get that far. I'd expect a settlement in advance if he does go the legal route. That he was instrumental in his own long-term injury will go against him.

c.p.w.g.w · 30-10-2019 10:13pm

fyfe79 wrote: »

Bit cynical of Derby not to help with his medical recovery, even.

Is they any possible recourse, what did he actually do wrong?

Ohmeha · 30-10-2019 10:14pm

Should have been 3 players getting the sack

No question Keogh's hefty salary and age profile compared to the Lawrence & Bennett's younger/cheaper/re-sale value is the motive behind Derby's decision. It will be interesting to how the PFA respond to this one

rodge68 · 30-10-2019 10:17pm

Cookiemunster wrote: »

At his age Keogh should have known better than to get wasted and get into the car that night, but it's a bit odd that the passenger in a car crash who got badly injured in said crash gets sacked, while the two drunk drivers who caused the crash and then fled the scene continue to be employed.

As a Derby County fan I think this is a load of Boll###s..
Total double standard, stupid getting in the car but still....

p1akuw47h5r3it · 30-10-2019 10:18pm

c.p.w.g.w wrote: »

Is they any possible recourse, what did he actually do wrong?

Interesting question in a sense. He's been fired for gross misconduct but since he wasn't driving cn it be classed as that. The fact that the two drivers were not sacked must play in his favour I'm sure.

Fromvert · 30-10-2019 10:19pm

If he came out of it uninjured he would still be employed. This isn't some moral stand from the club because of what he did or because he's a senior player/captain etc. He's now worthless to them and they likely have a legal reason to get rid without paying him.

banie01 · 30-10-2019 10:19pm

is_that_so wrote: »

For sure. I doubt it will get that far. I'd expect a settlement in advance if he does go the legal route. That he was instrumental in his own long-term injury will go against him.

Oh it will be settled with the contract paid out in full I'd expect.
His being instrumental in his injury won't count against him at a tribunal however.
If it went to court, he may lose a portion of any award as per contributory negligence split.
But Derby sacking him, when he wasn't driving, was a passenger is a poor reflection on their own advice IMO.
He could argue impaired decision making and honest mistake in assuming the driver was fit to drive as a result of Keogh's own intoxication.
Derby also could be found to have a duty of care should any history of alcohol abuse be raised, that they seem to have completely disregarded with the sacking.
Unless of course there are incidents of such support not disclosed and this sacking is the result of cumulative and documented issues that the other players were not party too.

30-10-2019 10:24pm

All 3 behaved terribly and deserved sanction.

But 1 employee's stupidity meant he can no longer perform his job. I can see why an employer would axe him and keep the other 2. It's not a.judgement of the morality of the act, it's a business decision.

Guy:Incognito · 30-10-2019 10:32pm

His contract is up 6 months before hes due back and hes probably finished given his age. He was also club captain and should know better. It's clear why they've treated him differently to 2 actual assets.

banie01 · 30-10-2019 10:32pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

All 3 behaved terribly and deserved sanction.

But 1 employee's stupidity meant he can no longer perform his job. I can see why an employer would axe him and keep the other 2. It's not a.judgement of the morality of the act, it's a business decision.

I do see your point, and I know you have experience of the law.
It's not a decision I'd see as being enforceable by Derby without cost tho

lawred2 · 30-10-2019 10:33pm

Cookiemunster wrote: »

At his age Keogh should have known better than to get wasted and get into the car that night, but it's a bit odd that the passenger in a car crash who got badly injured in said crash gets sacked, while the two drunk drivers who caused the crash and then fled the scene continue to be employed.

The self serving shoite from the club about values beggars belief..

lawred2 · 30-10-2019 10:35pm

Fromvert wrote: »

If he came out of it uninjured he would still be employed. This isn't some moral stand from the club because of what he did or because he's a senior player/captain etc. He's now worthless to them and they likely have a legal reason to get rid without paying him.

Can't see that standing up... Derby might have had some leg to stand on had they treated all three equally..

Is there no criminal case pending against these two drunk drivers?

dreamers75 · 30-10-2019 10:39pm

He will get his contract fully paid up.

Derby should have released a statement saying "Bennet and Lawrence have Market Value, Keogh does not""

rodge68 · 30-10-2019 10:50pm

The club is a joke at the moment..embarrassing on and off the pitch..Keogh has been shafted...

Agent Coulson · 30-10-2019 10:52pm

He will probably claim against the drivers insurance to cover his medical bills.

So along with his contract being paid out he won't be out of pocket.

PARlance · 30-10-2019 11:43pm

Agent Coulson wrote: »

He will probably claim against the drivers insurance to cover his medical bills.

So along with his contract being paid out he won't be out of pocket.

Where did it say they paid out his contract?

Esse85 · 31-10-2019 12:08am

I'm sure Derby took legal advice before actioning this.

TheCitizen · 31-10-2019 12:15am

banie01 wrote: »

That's not a standard that would be accepted as fair due process in any employment tribunal Mr Keogh cares to take the matter to though.

Whilst he may be out 24k a week for now, its only a temporary issue.
Awful way for his career to finish, but extremely poor employee handling by Derby.

I'd imagine he'll be suing Derby and the PFA will also get involved. Poor stuff from Derby County. Clear and obvious preferential treatment towards they younger more valuable players in the incident.

Shows you how brazenly ruthless football is and why players should never be "loyal" to a club, especially not to a crap middle Englander club like Derby.

tayto lover · 31-10-2019 12:19am

lawred2 wrote: »

The self serving shoite from the club about values beggars belief..

Hope they’re relegated. Double standards club.

Nunu · 31-10-2019 12:19am

Esse85 wrote: »

I'm sure Derby took legal advice before actioning this.

And I’m sure it’s absolutely ludicrous advice?! In an alternate universe if Keogh escaped without a scratch he’d be out on that pitch collecting his wage.
He’s been sacked because of his injury and that won’t fly.

This ‘gross misconduct’ line they’re peddling as reason for his sacking is the hilarious part. An intoxicated passenger he was the lads who actually drunk drove, crashed (into each other?!), causing Keogh serious harm, fled the bleedin scene?!...get 6 weeks wage fine.

What’s going on at Derby at all?!

Strumms · 31-10-2019 12:23am

is_that_so wrote: »

180 hours community service each and fined 6 weeks wages. He was the club captain and higher standards apply there.

Truth but given the circumstances the same punishment plus the removal of the captaincy would have been proportionate all things considered.

I think it doesn’t really embody fairness that the punishments are so unbalanced.

PARlance · 31-10-2019 12:28am

Esse85 wrote: »

I'm sure Derby took legal advice before actioning this.

No doubt they did but that's not to say it was correct or without a warning. People / Companies take legal advice all the time and still get brought to the cleaners.

TheCitizen · 31-10-2019 12:32am

Esse85 wrote: »

I'm sure Derby took legal advice before actioning this.

Bad legal advice I'd say

dreamers75 · 31-10-2019 12:38am

Esse85 wrote: »

I'm sure Derby took legal advice before actioning this.

yup and like most companies created an equation of costs, what is less!!

He will get his contract paid, the PFA and his lawyers will ensure this.

Thats the "less" they took, easier to pay out his contract then lose estimated 20 mill of 2 players.

TheCitizen · 31-10-2019 12:44am

dreamers75 wrote: »

yup and like most companies created an equation of costs, what is less!!

He will get his contract paid, the PFA and his lawyers will ensure this.

Thats the "less" they took, easier to pay out his contract then lose estimated 20 mill of 2 players.

In Keogh's case it will end up costing them more than if they just paid up his contract or allowed him to get fit while his contract ran down. Seemed like a spiteful response by a relatively weak little Englander club. Hopefully Keogh takes them to the cleaners for a lot more than just the remainder of his contract.

Strumms · 31-10-2019 12:50am

Esse85 wrote: »

I'm sure Derby took legal advice before actioning this.

You’d have thought. I’m not a legal expert but due to the disparity of the punishments there is a good chance he could take them to the cleaners.

Only thing that might be in Derby’s favor would be if he had received a warning for similar behavior before or indeed any disciplinary.

The court wouldn’t care a fûck if the other parties are ‘inexperienced’. They are the same in the eyes of the law.

Fr Tod Umptious · 31-10-2019 1:27am

We don't know all the facts here do we.

On the face of it Derby seem to be ditching their pretty worthless asset and using gross misconduct is relation to the car accident as the reason.

But
What were Keoghs actions on the night of the accident ?
Did he encourage the driver to continue drinking ?
Did he encourage the driver to drive drunk ?
Did he encourage the others to leave the scene ?

As club captain he would be expected to act in a certain manner
Maybe he did not act in the manner expected of him.

And thus he was sacked and the club are acting legally within the terms of his contract.

Mushy · 31-10-2019 7:43am

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

We don't know all the facts here do we.

On the face of it Derby seem to be ditching their pretty worthless asset and using gross misconduct is relation to the car accident as the reason.

But
What were Keoghs actions on the night of the accident ?
Did he encourage the driver to continue drinking ?
Did he encourage the driver to drive drunk ?
Did he encourage the others to leave the scene ?

As club captain he would be expected to act in a certain manner
Maybe he did not act in the manner expected of him.

And thus he was sacked and the club are acting legally within the terms of his contract.

Yeah there has to be more to it.

But there's still a huge disparity between the punishments. Their statement about not tolerating actions that will risk injury is so far off the mark. Forcing somebody to sign a new contract or sacking them....I'd say a solicitor will be knocking on Keoghs door asap

TheCitizen · 31-10-2019 7:57am

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

We don't know all the facts here do we.

On the face of it Derby seem to be ditching their pretty worthless asset and using gross misconduct is relation to the car accident as the reason.

But
What were Keoghs actions on the night of the accident ?
Did he encourage the driver to continue drinking ?
Did he encourage the driver to drive drunk ?
Did he encourage the others to leave the scene ?

As club captain he would be expected to act in a certain manner
Maybe he did not act in the manner expected of him.

And thus he was sacked and the club are acting legally within the terms of his contract.

We’ll find out when Keogh sues them.

baldbear · 31-10-2019 7:58am

What he did was bang out of order but the club have handled this situation really badly. Maybe Keogh has alcohol issues? Maybe his mental health isn't the best. The club are 100% looking after the bank balance. They don't give a damn about Keogh.

Surely he has a case based on age discrimination?

31-10-2019 8:11am

As said above, there could well be more to the story.

If Derby are entitled to sack him, as they must believe they are, you can't blame them. He's a worthless asset to them.

Supposedly he refused a reduced contract.

Messy court case on the way. He'll probably get some compo back but his career is probably over.

Rossi IRL · 31-10-2019 8:23am

I thought Keogh was in the back seat of the jeep. Seems harsh to sack the passenger.

Mushy · 31-10-2019 8:35am

6 wrote: »

As said above, there could well be more to the story.

If Derby are entitled to sack him, as they must believe they are, you can't blame them. He's a worthless asset to them.

Supposedly he refused a reduced contract.

Messy court case on the way. He'll probably get some compo back but his career is probably over.

Offering a new contract, then sacking a person after they don't sign it, is alone for compensation. It could very well be argued that decision was based on age and potentially be classed as disability also (but that's only based on what we know).

Derby have been shambolic in this every step of the way, and it could bite them badly.

Hoboo · 31-10-2019 8:44am

First reaction is wtf were Derby thinking......unfair dismissal, inequitable punishment etc etc.

Second reaction; this isn't the local mechanics firing a lad on the spot for having his hand in the till and getting fleeced for failing procedure. They're lawyered up. Without any info other than the crash, the injury and the outcome, impossible to tell. I'd imagine as they've waited a month, they've done their homework impeccably.

Well I'd hope they have.

osarusan · 31-10-2019 9:04am

Even though this is obviously a cost-cutting exercise, regardless of anything they might say about standards, you'd imagine Derby have done their homework and worked out that they can take these steps.

Nunu · 31-10-2019 9:06am

I think you’re probably giving them way too much credit here? I’m guessing when he refused the cut price contract the owner threw his toys out of the pram.

I honestly can’t see any other outcome than Keogh getting his contract paid in full.

pjohnson · 31-10-2019 9:09am

"Gross misconduct" is laughable when they keep Bennett and Lawrence. If they turfed all three out Keogh mightn't have a chance but to sack the only one not charged with drink driving?

Derby havent a hope.

31-10-2019 9:16am

Mushy wrote: »

Yeah there has to be more to it.

But there's still a huge disparity between the punishments.

Because his stupidity means he can't do his job and is a liability.

It's very simple. If 2 employees, do something wrong, 1 turns up the following day, 1 is unable to work again, I know who I'm looking to get rid of.

People think Derby should pay him over a million just to be fair or nice? This is the real world. No one here would shell out a year of wages to someone sitting on their arse because they got injured through their own fault.

lawred2 · 31-10-2019 9:16am

osarusan wrote: »

Even though this is obviously a cost-cutting exercise, regardless of anything they might say about standards, you'd imagine Derby have done their homework and worked out that they can take these steps.

Don't know how you could come to that conclusion really.

mcgovern · 31-10-2019 9:20am

He wasn't wearing a seat belt so Derby's insurance on him was void.
They might end up having to pay off his remaining contract but would get out of paying his medical bills etc.

Also, a lot of Derby fans hinting that there is more to the story and if he kicks up a fuss that the rest would be 'leaked'.

Esse85 · 31-10-2019 9:30am

Funny all the employment law specialists on here.
They must be privy to inside information too and know all of the facts.

Keogh Sacked by Derby

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