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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Sacked Leeds United employee Lucy Ward was offered job back | Sacked Leeds United employee Lucy Ward was offered job back |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A Leeds United employee who was unfairly dismissed by the club was offered her old job back but turned it down, a tribunal has heard. | A Leeds United employee who was unfairly dismissed by the club was offered her old job back but turned it down, a tribunal has heard. |
| Lucy Ward, who claimed she was sacked as she was former head coach Neil Redfearn's partner, won an unfair dismissal and sex discrimination case. | Lucy Ward, who claimed she was sacked as she was former head coach Neil Redfearn's partner, won an unfair dismissal and sex discrimination case. |
| At the tribunal remedy hearing, she said her dismissal changed her life and "destroyed" her confidence. | |
| Club chairman Massimo Cellino left the hearing before it started. | Club chairman Massimo Cellino left the hearing before it started. |
| Lucy Bairstow, the club's barrister, explained his absence was due to concern over the press attention. | Lucy Bairstow, the club's barrister, explained his absence was due to concern over the press attention. |
| More on this story and others from around West Yorkshire | More on this story and others from around West Yorkshire |
| Ms Ward, who worked as the club's education and welfare officer, travelled to Canada to work as a BBC pundit at the 2015 Women's World Cup. | Ms Ward, who worked as the club's education and welfare officer, travelled to Canada to work as a BBC pundit at the 2015 Women's World Cup. |
| The club claimed she was sacked for exceeding her annual leave entitlement. | The club claimed she was sacked for exceeding her annual leave entitlement. |
| She told the hearing, held in Leeds, that the club "removed me from the job I had loved for 17 years" and described the process of her dismissal as "horrendous". | She told the hearing, held in Leeds, that the club "removed me from the job I had loved for 17 years" and described the process of her dismissal as "horrendous". |
| Responding to the job offer, Ms Ward said: "It's a toxic environment in there now, I don't think anyone could seriously expect me to go back." | Responding to the job offer, Ms Ward said: "It's a toxic environment in there now, I don't think anyone could seriously expect me to go back." |
| Ms Bairstow said the club had sent a letter of apology to her, in which Mr Cellino apologised for mistakes made by the club. | Ms Bairstow said the club had sent a letter of apology to her, in which Mr Cellino apologised for mistakes made by the club. |
| Ms Ward described the apology as "not genuine", but "damage limitation". | Ms Ward described the apology as "not genuine", but "damage limitation". |
| She said: "He knew what he was putting me through." | She said: "He knew what he was putting me through." |
| 'Can't get a job' | |
| In a written statement, Mr Cellino said he regretted not "publicly apologising" to her via the club's original written statement. | In a written statement, Mr Cellino said he regretted not "publicly apologising" to her via the club's original written statement. |
| Ms Ward said she has applied for similar jobs since being dismissed, but has had no success. | Ms Ward said she has applied for similar jobs since being dismissed, but has had no success. |
| She said: "If this process hadn't happened to me I would have a job. Now it has, I can't get a job. There's no coincidence there." | She said: "If this process hadn't happened to me I would have a job. Now it has, I can't get a job. There's no coincidence there." |
| The club argued she has had lots of positive publicity during the matter. | The club argued she has had lots of positive publicity during the matter. |
| The tribunal is due to reconvene privately on 21 June to decide a settlement, with a written judgement due after that date. |