Fulham sue Tigana over transfers

Fulham are suing their former manager Jean Tigana, claiming he persuaded them to pay excessive transfer fees.

In an extraordinary legal fight, the Frenchman is counter-suing for share options worth £2.1m. And, in a separate action, Tigana started proceedings at an employment tribunal yesterday for £455,000 in unpaid wages and bonuses following his departure in April. While it is not unusual for managers and clubs to go to court, it is thought to be the first time that action is based on transfer negotiations.

Two deals in particular have been cited by Fulham - the £11.5m paid for Steve Marlet, when they say he was worth £7m, and the £7m for goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, who was worth, they say, £5m. The club's QC, David Phillips, said: "Marlet was one of a number of footballers for whom Fulham paid significantly more than they should have. Footballers are commodities. Their value is not generally known. But it is known to people in the know."

Tigana, a former agent, is blamed. The Frenchman, who flew in to attend his tribunal in Croydon, said: "I felt I was fighting against people who wanted to drive me out." It was argued that Tigana had warned Fulham's chairman, Mohamed Al Fayed, about "excessive" transfer fees but was ignored. Tigana claims he was not paid up to the end of his contract and is owed two months' salary - at £30,000-a-week - and a £200,000 bonus for taking Fulham into the Uefa Cup.

The club deny he is owed money and countered that the Frenchman had agreed to "stand down". Their evidence is that Tigana was not sacked after Fayed told him his contract would not be renewed.