A LIFELONG fan and employee of Dundee Football Club who was told his job was obsolete as he was recovering from cancer has won almost £11,000 after taking the club to an employment tribunal.
John Brown, a former commercial associate for the Dens Park side, was due to return to work after life-saving surgery for a tumour on his kidney when bosses broke the news to him. He was told a new commercial manager would be taking over his duties organising events, but that he could continue working at match day hospitality – as long as he accepted a pay cut.
Mr Brown, from Broughty Ferry, tried to negotiate with the club but eventually decided to raise a tribunal for disability discrimination. Judge Ian McFatridge found in his favour, saying it would be “positively perverse” if he had not.
Mr Brown, who worked with the club since 2010, claimed it was a difficult decision to raise at tribunal as it meant taking legal action against the team he has supported since childhood. He said: “I’ll always feel great sadness with the way it ended. I made many good friends during my time there and did not have the opportunity to leave properly as I would have liked, or say goodbye to people I’d worked closely with.
“I took no satisfaction from either taking the club to an employment tribunal or winning my case. Rather I felt I was left with absolutely no alternative and was merely relieved to have someone eventually acknowledge that I was not treated in a proper manner while off sick with cancer.”
Mr Brown was considered the lead person for club events, organising fundraising events and assisting with hospitality.
In 2014 chief executive Scott Gardiner left the club and director Steve Martin became his line manager. In January 2015, other changes included Mr Brown being put on a zero-hours contract. A new commercial manager was appointed. Shortly after, Mr Brown fell ill suddenly, discovering he had cancer. He had surgery to remove a tumour and was off work for a few months. In August last year he was told his job was now “obsolete”.
The club had no professional legal representation at the tribunal. It told the judge there were “good business reasons” for the decisions but failed to show what they were.
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