Schofield begins case for unfair dismissal

Chris Schofield: claiming unfair dismissal against Lancashire © Getty Images

Chris Schofield, the former England and Lancashire legspinner, began his claim for unfair dismissal against his former club today, at an industrial tribunal in Manchester. Schofield was released by Lancashire at the end of the 2004 season after seven years at Old Trafford, and believes his chances of finding a new county were harmed by not being informed of the club's decision until the end of the season.

Schofield, 29, who was among the first batch of ECB central contracts in 2000 and played two Tests against Zimbabwe that summer, was not told until September 23 that he was not going to be retained by Lancashire.

Under the terms of new contracts draw up between the ECB and the Professional Cricketers Association (PCA) all counties are required to appraise their players at various stages throughout a season, discussing their progress and areas they may need to improve. This was brought in as a result of the Neil Burns and Carl Crowe case, when they took Leicestershire to court for unfair dismissal in 2002.

Schofield's tribunal heard that he was appraised during the first part of the 2004 season, but was not talked to again regarding Lancashire's plans for him until the decision had been reached. PA Sport reported that Mike Watkinson, the Lancashire cricket manager, said the decision not to retain Schofield had been "touch and go" and was not made until the first week of September, before being ratified by the club's committee on September 6.

Watkinson said that as Schofield was a player who relied on confidence he did not to tell him that he could be released at a stage when a series of good performances might have changed the decision, and because it was not in his or the team's interest - who were battling to avoid relegation from Division One in the county championship.

The claim from Schofield is that the late decision reduced his opportunities of finding another county, but Watkinson presented evidence that suggested other counties would not have signed him even if they known his availability. David Byas, Yorkshire's director of cricket, who played with Schofield for one season at Lancashire, appeared as a witness and was one of those who claimed that earlier notification of Schofield's situation would not have made a difference.

During the 2004 season, Schofield only managed to take three championship wickets, although he had more success with the bat, making three half-centuries, including a career-best 99. But Jim Cumbes, the Lancashire chief executive, said Schofield would have been aware that his performances had not been good enough to warrant a new deal at the club long before the season ended.

Schofield will give his evidence tomorrow morning when the hearing resumes.