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Gillingham faces legal battle from ex-player Mark McCammon

Mark McCammon
Mark McCammon

A race row between a professional footballer and his manager ended in them being separated as tempers flared.

The dispute came to a head in November 2010, when Gillingham FC players Mark McCammon, Josh Gowling and Curtis Weston missed training due to the snow.

Now the matter has come before an employment tribunal, with witness statements setting out the two sides' version of events.

Mr McCammon said conditions were too treacherous to make it in, but this was disputed by the club.

Chairman Paul Scally, who in his submission said he was concerned the players were "trying it on", asked for photographs of the road around their home in Frindsbury Hill, Strood to be taken.

Mr McCammon claims other white players were told not to come in and didn't have photographs taken of the area around their homes.

Soon after an ultimatum from the club, there was a furious row in manager Andy Hessenthaler's office.

Mr McCammon accused the now former Gills boss of being "racially intolerant" and assistant Nicky Southall had to step in and separate the two.

The striker was suspended, fined two weeks' wages and eventually sacked by the club following a disciplinary hearing.

McCammon, who was injured at the time of the bust-up, also alleges the club failed to pay for treatment that would get him fit again.

The club, he claims, forced him to stay behind long after other players had left, and he ended up watching "mind-numbing day-time TV and Britain's Got Talent".

Mr McCammon, who left Priestfield in 2011, is suing club chairman Paul Scally for unfair dismissal, breach of contract, race victimisation and failure to pay wages.

McCammon, 33, played for three seasons at Gillingham after signing his contract back in 2008.

The striker, who has played international football for Barbados, ended last season with Lincoln City but is now understood to be a free agent.

The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA), the trade union for professional footballers, has previously attempted to settle the dispute.

The allegations have been strongly denied by the club.

The tribunal, which is expected to last until Friday, has today been hearing from Chairman Paul Scally.

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