Gor Mahia FC have come out to clarify on the situation of Scottish Coach Frank Nuttall who is allegedly sacked by the club.
The two times league champion with K’Ogalo on Thursday circulated a letter to Media houses indicating how his contract had been terminated over a pay dispute in which he claims the club wanted to cut his pay by 50% instead of a 10% rise as earlier agreed.
In a statement released by the club and signed by club official Ronald Ngala, the 15 times Kenyan champions referred to Nuttal’s statement as inaccurate and explained what he says is the factual version.
Below is a FULL STATEMENT by Gor Mahia on the matter
Our attention has been drawn to what purports to be a Press Release by FRANK NUTTALL regarding his contract with the Gor Mahia Football club. In the said Press Release, Mr. Nuttall states in material part and we quote: –
“The reason for termination of my contract is because the Executive Committee of Gor Mahia club wanted to reduce my salary by 50% whereas my contract clearly provided for a 10% increase of my salary from 1st January, 2016.”
That statement is inaccurate and it is important that we put the record straight. Throughout last year we struggled to pay Mr. Nuttall’s salary of Kshs.700,000/= per month.
We offered him several 3 bedroomed fully furnished apartments in Kilimani at rents between kshs.120,000/= and Kshs.150,000/= per month, but he declined saying they were substandard.
As a result he lived at the Nairobi Serena where the club paid an average Kshs.600,000/= per month. At the end of the season, the Executive Committee delegated the Senior Vice Chairman TO RENEGOTIATE Mr. Nuttal’s emoluments.
The two met and it was proposed to Mr. Nuttall that he should take a 50% pay cut and a monthly house allowance of Kshs.120,000/=.
He informed the Senior vice Chairman that in principle that was acceptable to him because he wanted to keep his job, but he would first want to consult his family.
He returned to Scotland and from where he sent an email asking us to put the proposal in writing which we did on 29th December, 2015.
He replied on 31st December, 2015 saying: – “Thank you for your recent mail giving me up to 5pm today to accept or decline your pay cut’
“Owing to the love I have for the Club and being aware of the financial constraints facing the Club, I considered and can now confirm that you can proceed to prepare the new contract as you have suggested.”
We prepared a contract along those terms and sent to his advocate for signing or comments.
On 2nd February, 2016 the lawyer redrafted a new contract where Mr. Nutttall now wanted a salary of Kshs.770,000/= a house allowance of Kshs.250,000/=, a sturdy 4wheel vehicle, numerous out of pocket allowances among others. We have responded to Mr. Nuttall’s advocate and are awaiting his response.
The matter is therefore still an administrative one and after the match in Mombasa we shall be meeting with our branch officials to give them a full report and then agree on a way forward.
It remains to be seen how this will be resolved but as it appears, the exit for Nuttall is imminent.