Yorkshire’s six-figure pay-off to axed Gale

YORkSHIRE agreed a six-figure compensation package with former captain and coach Andrew Gale yesterday in a mediated settlement after conceding his claim for unfair dismissal. The club also settled with former bowling coach Richard Pyrah, who was sacked with Gale and 14 other members of the backroom team last December in the fallout from the Azeem Rafiq racism scandal. Yorkshire have now agreed to pay off 10 former members of staff in addition to Rafiq after conceding liability last summer, as revealed by Sportsmail.

In their most recent accounts, Yorkshire set aside £1.9million for ‘various costs associated with the racism allegations’ and the pay-offs will have major financial repercussions for the club, who have paid £200,000 to Rafiq and £300,000 to former chief executive Mark Arthur. Gale has always denied directing any racist comments towards Rafiq. The 38-year-old has kept quiet throughout the furore, other than to accuse the ECB of a witch-hunt and saying he would not attend their disciplinary hearing. Yorkshire’s willingness to settle means they will avoid appearing before Leeds Employment Tribunal, which had been set for October 31. Yorkshire declined to comment last night.