(Trinidad Express) Ex-national coach Russell Latapy has sued the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) for over $5 million dollars which, he claims, represents salary owed to him and compensation for being wrongfully dismissed.
The matter came up in the High Court in Port of Spain before Justice Maureen Rajnauth Lee yesterday but was adjourned to March 28 when attorneys for the TTFF are expected to be present.
Latapy is being represented by attorney-at-law Derek Balliram.
In documents filed on October 12, 2011, Latapy says the salary owed to him amounts to US$ 424,278 plus interest from April 8, 2011 at the rate of six per cent per annum. This amounts to $US 6,137.48 (at the time of filing) to continue at a daily rate of US$ 69.74 until the date of judgement.
He is also seeking damages for wrongful dismissal in the sum of US$ 402,852 with interest at six per cent per annum in the sum of US$ 5,827.55 (at the time of filing) to continue at a daily rate of US$ 66.22 until the date of judgement.
Interest at a rate of 12 per cent per annum is also being sought on any sums awarded from the date of judgement to the date of payment.
Latapy was hired as head coach for the period April 15, 2009 to November 30, 2009 on terms which included the payment of a base salary of US$ 33,571 per month.
The team’s bid to reach the 2014 World Cup came to an end in November, 2011 under German Otto Pfister, but Latapy says he agreed to stay on as a coach until another formal agreement was arrived at between himself and the TTFF.
Latapy says TTFF general secretary Richard Groden and then special advisor, Jack Warner, entered into an oral agreement with him to continue serving as a coach for two years from March 2010 at the same salary. The agreement provided no provision for its termination by either party. However, Latapy’s contract was terminated on April 8, 2011.
