West Ham United settle £2.2m compensation claim with Alan Curbishley

 West Ham United have agreed to pay Alan Curbishley £2.2 million to end their dispute over his departure from the club 17 months ago.
Curbishley, who resigned after Anton Ferdinand and George McCartney, the defenders, were sold to Sunderland against his wishes in 2008, won his case against the East London club for constructive dismissal in November.
The decision to conclude the case was taken by David Sullivan, the West Ham joint-chairman, who met Curbishley two weeks ago. Sullivan wants to put an end to the problems hanging over from the previous regime after buying the club with David Gold last month. He plans to tackle the outstanding money owed to Sheffield United from the Carlos Tévez affair next.
Curbishley resigned in September 2008 and started a case for constructive dismissal, claiming £3 million in compensation. A Premier League managers’ arbitration tribunal dismissed a counter-claim by the club for the cost of employing Gianfranco Zola, Curbishley’s successor, and Steve Clarke, the Italian’s assistant, but had yet to decide on the amount of compensation to award Curbishley. West Ham had offered £1.2 million plus costs recently.


The 52-year-old has set a target of returning to Premier League management. “It has taken many months to conclude this case but I am proud of my record at West Ham, which included a win ratio of 40 per cent, after initially keeping the club in the Premier League and a tenth place finish in my only full season in charge,” he said. “I would like to thank David Sullivan for acting quickly.”
West Ham have paid Dean Ashton a year’s salary, in accordance with his contract, after the former England forward was forced to retire because of an ankle injury in December. The club have lodged a compensation claim against the FA because the original injury was caused by a tackle by Shaun Wright-Phillips, during a training session while the pair were on international duty in August 2006.
The FA’s insurer has yet to respond, but the governing body has dismissed Ashton’s chances of making a successful claim. Ashton has also consulted a lawyer about the possibility of claiming compensation from Chelsea, for whom Wright-Phillips played at the time.
West Ham have said that they are aware of the pledges made by the Government and the London 2012 Organising Committee regarding the Olympic Stadium, which they would like to be their future home. Tessa Jowell, the Olympics Minister, reiterated that an athletics track must be part of the legacy. West Ham are drawing up various options, which will be presented to the Olympic Park Legacy Company, possibly as early as April.


West Ham United settle £2.2m compensation claim with Alan Curbishley | West Ham - Times Online