Lots of Aston Villa fans have been reacting on social media after the Daily Mail reported that former Chief Executive Keith Wyness is suing the Villa Park outfit for unfair dismissal, over claims that he left the club over whistleblowing.
Wyness is said to have lodged a claim against the then-Championship side in August 2018 with the Birmingham employment tribunal, which will have a final hearing next month.
The Villans’ former Chief Executive held his position for two years, and alleges he made a series of ‘protected disclosures’ with the final one made on June 4 last year, a day before he was suspended.
Wyness has met with the Birmingham employment tribunal on several occasions after first lodging his claim for preliminary hearings, where he has discussed seeking legal council over concerns raised in Villa potentially facing insolvency over an unpaid tax bill.
The Mail claim Wyness and Dr Tony Xia fell out when he raised his concern with the former Villa owner that the Birmingham-based outfit could face heading into administration after the 2018 Play-Off Final.
Aston Villa deny that Wyness was relieved of his duties over whistleblowing, which the ex-Villans executive claims ‘solely or principally’ led to his sacking.
A final hearing is scheduled for November 4, which will listen into Wyness’ case for wrongful dismissal by Aston Villa, but will not feature Xia as a second respondent after this was denied in February.
Xi has also not had to hand over all WhatsApp messages relevant to proceedings, as Wyness had requested.
The hearing is scheduled to last nine days (Birmingham Mail).
Aston Villa fans are not holding out much expectation of their club being punishment for Wyness’ claims of wrongful dismissal, with one noting that he has ‘not got a leg to stand on’ in relation to the 2018 issue.
Here are some of the reactions shared…
He has not got a leg to stand on! pic.twitter.com/2anSVRkYhT
— Dan Naylor (@DanNayloravfc) October 25, 2019
Good luck with that. ?
— Thorsten Jensen? (@ThorstenJensen1) October 25, 2019
@retsub12 Fat chance.
— Dan Baskeyfield (@baskeyx) October 25, 2019
Among the reactions to Wyness’ hearing, some Aston Villa fans have noted that he should only be able to take issue with Xi and not the Premier League club given the change in command since his departure.
Villa’s most recent accounts showed the club’s new holding company NSWE UK stating that the Villa Park outfit suffered ‘significant liquidity problems’ last summer while under Xi’s control.
How exactly is that going to work then, seeing as the guy who sacked him is no longer involved with the club? Just move on you doughnut….. Everton fans did warn us he was a mess of a man!
— Longclaw82 (@Longclaw9) October 24, 2019
How does that even stand up in court against the club when its not being run by the same people? Thats like sueing kfc because maccy ds sacked off the nuggets ?????
— Andrew Clarke (@andywayneclarke) October 25, 2019
Who was his employer the Recon Group? Send the bill to Dr Xia
— Gareth Barham (@GarethBarham2) October 25, 2019
Now that Xia has no interest or involvement in the club, will the judgement still relate to the club or to Xia? It would be odd to fine a company that basically didn’t exist at the time of the alleged offence.
— Richard Parker ? (@tackbunny) October 25, 2019
@retsub12 sue Tony not the club tubs
— Keaton Gibbs (@xK3at) October 25, 2019
Wyness’ claim of wrongful dismissal has provoked some fans to vent their frustrations on matters that have had a more recent effect on Villa, such as last weekend’s VAR decision against Conor Hourihane.
Wesley Moraes had been adjudged to have fouled Brighton & Hove Albion ‘keeper Mat Ryan before Hourihane struck the net in the first-half, as Villa went on to win 2-1 (Birmingham Mail).
It was the second incident this season where Villa have seen the Video Assistant Referee take one of their goals off the board, after one was scrubbed from the records books as Dean Smith’s men drew 2-2 at Burnley.
They were also denied a penalty at Arsenal for an incident involving Sokratis Papastathopoulos when VAR did not intervene, while the technology could not be used at Crystal Palace when Jack Grealish was adjudged to have dived before Henri Lansbury fired home.
I’m sure VAR will come to our aid here. His mouth was offside in the build up.
— Andy Rudge (@AndyRudge7) October 25, 2019