Dowie Taking Latics To Court

Oldham fans were first alerted to this by an article by Charles Sale in today’s Daily Mail. Iain Dowie claims that he is owed a £50,000 bonus for getting Oldham into the play offs last season and also that he is entitled to £29,625 extra following the sales of Fitz Hall and Josh Low after a clause in their contracts says that Iain Dowie receives 7.5% of any net profit of the transfers of these players from Oldham. He is attempting to sue Oldham Athletic Association Football Club the old trading name of the football club which is in Administration.

This whole episode is said to be triggered by the club trying to get back a Mercedes car which was given to him when he was manager which the club own. It sounds like Dowie wasn’t happy with this and has countered the club’s claim by filing a claim of his own. Dowie and Oldham Athletic Football Club are due in Manchester on the 1^st July 2004 for an Employment Tribunal to hear the case.

Oldham Athletic have hit back releasing a statement on the official website outlining their defence:

• The new company are not liable for any debts of the old comapny.
• Dowie openly stated he wasn’t under contract at Oldham and the club allowed him to talk to other clubs about jobs and couldn’t claim any compensation from Crystal Palace.
• Dowie didn’t have a contract with the club and so shouldn’t be considered as a football creditor.

Also Iain Dowie didn’t serve any notice period before he left the club and he also didn’t mention this claim at the time he left the club.

Oldham Chairman Barry Chaytow and Chief Executive Alan Hardy have been called up to defend Oldham in court by giving evidence that Iain Dowie didn't have a contract and that he walked out on the club without giving any notice.