Liverpool chief Ian Ayre was on
Wednesday dragged into allegations of an Anfield conspiracy and claims
that a senior club employee sold tickets on the black market.
Former club chauffeur Dave Sloan has taken Liverpool to an Employment Tribunal alleging that he was the victim of constructive dismissal after blowing the whistle on player liaison officer Ray Haughan last October.
The issue came to a head at a Christmas party thrown by manager Brendan Rodgers for Liverpool’s training ground staff at the Hope Street Hotel in Liverpool on December 16 last year when Sloan clashed with managing director Ayre and several other club executives.
The former police officer, who has chauffeured owner John Henry and senior players and executives since starting work in July 2009, claims that he was provoked by Haughan before accusing him in front of Ayre and other guests of ‘robbing the club blind’.
However, Sloan claims that Ayre conspired with other executives and security staff to bring evidence against him.
In his witness statement, Ayre said: ‘He went ballistic, gesticulating and getting in my face, getting angrier and angrier. He started to lash out and security guards saw fit to physically restrain and remove him.’ Ayre wrote an email to staff about the incident at 1.20am and Sloan was suspended at a meeting the following morning.
Sloan, whose duties included going to the cashpoint for Haughan, decided to turn whistleblower after hearing allegations of black market ticket dealing from security staff and then discovering that his superior’s bank balance had increased by £40,000.
‘I had suspicions that ticket touting was going on,’ he told the tribunal in Liverpool. ‘I was worried about the repercussions but there were fans not getting tickets and someone inside the club making money out of it and that was wrong.’
Sloan claims that after his disclosure he was ignored by Haughan and made to carry out menial tasks like making the tea and hoovering, while outside contractors were called in to chauffeur staff.
‘Most days I was sat at Melwood doing nothing twiddling my thumbs then told to go home only to be called back 15 minutes later to do things like adjust a wall clock,’ he said.
Sloan had previously been warned about his conduct, including an incident in the summer of 2012 when it was alleged that he swore at Andy Carroll after flying to Ibiza with a visa so Liverpool’s £35million striker could go on the pre-season tour to America.
‘I was told not to approach the player Andy Carroll because I’d upset him,’ said Sloan. ‘But I did approach him and he knew nothing about it. He actually laughed it off.’ The tribunal rejected an application by Liverpool to keep Haughan’s identity secret.
The hearing continues.
Former club chauffeur Dave Sloan has taken Liverpool to an Employment Tribunal alleging that he was the victim of constructive dismissal after blowing the whistle on player liaison officer Ray Haughan last October.
The issue came to a head at a Christmas party thrown by manager Brendan Rodgers for Liverpool’s training ground staff at the Hope Street Hotel in Liverpool on December 16 last year when Sloan clashed with managing director Ayre and several other club executives.
Claim: Former Liverpool chauffeur Dave Sloan (below) claims he fly to Ibiza with Andy Carroll (above) to get a visa
Having his say: Dave Sloan arrives for his employment tribunal on Wednesday
Claim: Ray Haughan is accused of making money out of selling tickets on the black market
The former police officer, who has chauffeured owner John Henry and senior players and executives since starting work in July 2009, claims that he was provoked by Haughan before accusing him in front of Ayre and other guests of ‘robbing the club blind’.
However, Sloan claims that Ayre conspired with other executives and security staff to bring evidence against him.
In his witness statement, Ayre said: ‘He went ballistic, gesticulating and getting in my face, getting angrier and angrier. He started to lash out and security guards saw fit to physically restrain and remove him.’ Ayre wrote an email to staff about the incident at 1.20am and Sloan was suspended at a meeting the following morning.
Sloan, whose duties included going to the cashpoint for Haughan, decided to turn whistleblower after hearing allegations of black market ticket dealing from security staff and then discovering that his superior’s bank balance had increased by £40,000.
‘I had suspicions that ticket touting was going on,’ he told the tribunal in Liverpool. ‘I was worried about the repercussions but there were fans not getting tickets and someone inside the club making money out of it and that was wrong.’
Sloan claims that after his disclosure he was ignored by Haughan and made to carry out menial tasks like making the tea and hoovering, while outside contractors were called in to chauffeur staff.
‘Most days I was sat at Melwood doing nothing twiddling my thumbs then told to go home only to be called back 15 minutes later to do things like adjust a wall clock,’ he said.
Told: Ian Ayre (left) was approached by Dave Sloan at a Christmas party regarding Haughan's alleged activity
Sloan had previously been warned about his conduct, including an incident in the summer of 2012 when it was alleged that he swore at Andy Carroll after flying to Ibiza with a visa so Liverpool’s £35million striker could go on the pre-season tour to America.
‘I was told not to approach the player Andy Carroll because I’d upset him,’ said Sloan. ‘But I did approach him and he knew nothing about it. He actually laughed it off.’ The tribunal rejected an application by Liverpool to keep Haughan’s identity secret.
The hearing continues.
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