Coaching staff win claims of unfair dismissal against Yorkshire

In December last year, in the wake of the allegations made by Azeem Rafiq a year prior and following the former cricketer’s evidence heard by the Department for Culture Media and Sport Select Committee, 16 members of staff including director of cricket Martyn Moxon, head coach Andrew Gale and all coaching staff left Yorkshire County Cricket Club (YCCC).

Gale however has now won a claim for unfair dismissal against the county side, having made the legal claim along with second-team coach Ian Dews, bowling coach Rich Pyrah, academy lead Richard Damms and strength and conditioning coaches Ian Fisher and Peter Sim.

Despite an employment judge finding that complaint was “well founded”, YCCC said that the sacking of the 16 people had been both “necessary and justified”.

In a statement the club said said it “acknowledges the judgment that no disciplinary process was followed, which it has accepted in order to minimise the tribunal time taken up by these cases.

“At this preliminary stage, the tribunal has not made any judgment on the reasons for dismissal and the club’s firm view is that the dismissals were necessary and justified.”

Gale a former batsman who spent his entire career at Yorkshire both as a player and then coach, was suspended as part of an investigation into a historic tweet he sent, before he was sacked on 3 December.

The two sides will now have to look at compensation agreements, but if this can’t be reached there will be another hearing to determine the next steps.

The news comes as Yorkshire continues to rebuild from the fallout of racism scandal which saw it lose sponsors and almost lose international test cricket.

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