DERBY’S HIGH COURT FIGHT
Owner and axed chief sue each other
DERBY COUNTY owner Mel Morris is heading for a bitter, multi-millionpound High Court battle with his former chief executive, Sam Rush.
The two are pursuing each other for millions in damages, with part of Morris’s complaint understood to be focused on certain transfer deals completed by the Championship club when Rush was serving as chief executive and president.
At the same time Rush wants compensation, again running into millions, for unfair dismissal last May, breach of contract and the five per cent shareholding in the football club he received as part of his deal.
His annual earnings of £500,000 made him the highest paid chief executive in the Championship and he had three years left on his contract when he was fired.
Rush was looking to have his case heard in an employment tribunal last month but the High Court civil action by Morris takes precedence. The case is expected to be listed next month and will most likely be heard in the summer.
While the civil action is specifically against Rush who, according to a statement from the club, was sacked ‘on the grounds of gross misconduct and breach of fiduciary duty’, Sportsmail understands other parties involved in the deals under scrutiny have been contacted. Rush has denied any wrongdoing. At the time he said he was ‘incredibly shocked and disappointed’ to be dismissed.
Yesterday, both sides declined to comment but Morris has made no secret of his desire to take the matter to court. In May he said: ‘Obviously, in a situation like this, Sam has every right to defend his position.
‘I anticipate this will end up in the courts and we are relishing that opportunity.
‘I think the nature of what we are looking at and how we are dealing with it — particularly given the fact that these are obviously very serious allegations that have been made — inevitably it is going to end up in court.
‘I think fans will get the benefit of full disclosure in the fullness of time.’
Rush, a lawyer who joined Derby from leading sports agency Wasserman Media Group, is believed to have returned to the athlete management business since leaving the club last year.
DERBY COUNTY owner Mel Morris is set for a High Court showdown with the chief executive he sacked last year.
Morris and Sam Rush are pursuing each other for millions in damages, with part of Morris’s complaint said to be focused on transfer deals done when Rush was chief executive and president of the Championship club.
Rush, who left last May, wants compensation for unfair dismissal and breach of contract.