November 21 – Former Irish Football Association (IFA) chief executive Howard Wells (pictured) has said he is satisfied with his six-figure payout for unfair dismissal, which has been settled out of court.
Wells was sacked from his £100,000 a year post in October 2008 after nearly four years with the Northern Ireland governing body.
The Englishman had claimed “victimisation on the grounds of racism”.
Wells named two individuals in his complaint, one of them IFA President Raymond Kennedy.
An Industrial Tribunal was due to hear his case on Monday only to be informed the situation had been resolved.
It is understood that Wells, a former goalkeeper with Wycombe Wanderers and chief executive of UK Sport, has agreed to settle for a payment £200,000 plus his legal costs.
Well said: ”The matter has been settled and I am satisfied with the outcome.”
But the decision could leave the IFA facing an even more uncertain financial future as they made only £60,000 in the last financial year.
Patrick Nelsen has replaced Wells at the IFA after arriving from League Two club Macclesfield Town, where he was chief executive.
Wells, who has also worked as chief executive at Ipswich Town and Watford, is now the chairman of Rebben Ltd, a start-up company designed to provide business and personal advice to sports’ professionals.