Richard Keogh sacked by Derby

comment by lastapostleofvidal (U1491)
posted 46 minutes ago
Generally, judges take more notice of sentencing guidelines than they do of what a random Leeds supporter might regard as "nothing unusual". For those levels the guidelines suggest a fine of around 150% of the weekly wage for Lawrence together with a "low level community order" and a similar fine for Bennett with no recommendation for community order. So in fact the punishment given to them was greater than would normally be expected.

But writing to your MP is probably the right thing if you feel strongly about it.


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That might be the case for just drink driving but there was crashing and fleeing the scene leaving a severely injured passenger as well, hence harsher sentence more appropriate.

Yes, hence why they received a more severe sentence than ordinarily recommended. I do believe you are finally getting there, Jonty.

Richard Keogh: Agent says Derby should have treated sacked defender 'like family'

Richard Keogh's agent said the player will look to continue his rehabilitation at St George's Park, the Football Association's national football centre
Richard Keogh's agent claims the player's seven years of service to Derby was not properly considered when they sacked him for gross misconduct.

Keogh, 33, was sacked for his involvement in a crash that left him injured and led to two team-mates pleading guilty to drink-driving.

"To be kicked to the kerb is a really difficult pill to swallow," Keogh's agent Cos Toffis said.

"He's bled in that shirt, fought in that shirt and cried in that shirt."

Keogh, who captained the club until the incident, sustained knee ligament damage and was ruled out for more than a year after a car driven by Tom Lawrence crashed into a lamppost on 24 September.

Midfielder Lawrence and Rams forward Mason Bennett were fined six weeks' wages by the club, while Derby magistrates' court ordered the players to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work, gave them a 12-month community order and banned them both from driving for two years.

Keogh's role as skipper and the added responsibility that came with the position were factors in his sacking, BBC Radio Derby reported on Thursday.

'He deserved to be treated like family'

But in an interview with talkSPORT, Toffis said he was "absolutely shocked" when his client was dismissed after seven years with the club.

"It was something we were paranoid about, but at no point did we think it was going to happen," he said.

"The only thing I pleaded for is that Richard be treated like family - he deserved to be treated like family.

"Richard played 356 games for the football club and whenever a player commits and dedicates to a football club the way Richard has, I think you become part of that family.

"I don't think I can put into words how much he's hurting and what his family are going through.

"Richard is in a really bad way, it's heartbreaking. Richard's world has been absolutely rocked."

'Keogh will play again'

Asked if Keogh should have known better than to get into the car with his team-mate after a night drinking, Toffis said: "I'm not going to accept that.

"I can't really go into the events of the evening, but I do have a side of the events so I can't accept what you just said."

Keogh had 14 days to appeal against Derby's decision from the point that it was made last Wednesday.

However, Toffis said no conversations had yet taken place with the club regarding a possible reconciliation.

"The decision was made by them, they closed that door when they made that decision and since they did my phone hasn't rung," he said.

"I'm a football agent, my phone number isn't blocked to anyone. If they ring there'll be a conversation of course."

Toffis also said that Keogh, who was originally ruled out for 15 months, is "ahead of schedule" with his rehabilitation and is aiming to return by November 2020.

"He is the most determined character I've ever come across in my life," he added. "If there is one thing he will do, it's play again."

Will Brexit be the death of football agents? If so I might come round to the idea.😏

I think these Leeds fans should concentrate on their racist goalkeeper, fancy using the "N" word to another player. Makes Keogh look like an innocent angel.

comment by VC10Ram (U18980)
posted 5 hours, 12 minutes ago
I think these Leeds fans should concentrate on their racist goalkeeper, fancy using the "N" word to another player. Makes Keogh look like an innocent angel.
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Thinking does not appear to be your strength then?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50322199

Exactly as many have stated in this thread, the PFA will defend Keogh on the basis of clear discrimination

Please sit down before reading further.

SHOCKER - it was about the money...


Mel Morris explains decision to sack Richard Keogh but keep Lawrence and Bennett

BySteve NicholsonFootball Editor/Chief Football

Mel Morris spoke at the 2019 Derby Telegraph Sports Awards last night.

Derby County owner Mel Morris has explained why he has not sacked Tom Lawrence and Mason Bennett following their convictions for drink-driving.

Speaking at the 2019 Derby Telegraph Sports Awards last night, the Rams chairman said firing the two footballers would "not be as simple as people think".

His comments came after fans asked why club captain Richard Keogh had been sacked following a car crash on the A6 near Allestree, but not Lawrence or Bennett who were both arrested for drink-driving shortly afterwards.

Keogh was a passenger in one of the cars and suffered a serious knee injury that ruled him out of action for around 15 months.

Derby County decided to terminate his contract for "gross misconduct" after the 33-year-old reportedly refused to accept a pay cut.

Justifying the decision, the club said it "will not tolerate any of its players or staff behaving in a manner which puts themselves, their colleagues, and members of the general public at risk of injury or worse, or which brings the club into disrepute".

The statement prompted questions about why Lawrence and Bennett had not been sacked as well.

Morris addressed the issue last night as he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Roundhouse, with host Gary Newbon inviting the Rams owner to explain the club's position on the matter.

Morris told the audience: "I spent some time earlier this evening talking about sacrifice.

"And the point is, at the level we play at in professional football, it isn't too much to ask that people sacrifice alcohol.

"That's not too much to ask for.

"The challenge is this. I went into The Yard about a week after the incident to apologise to sponsors and to advertisers. And people said you don't need to apologise. I said, I need to apologise. I have had parents ringing me up saying one of these guys has been at our school talking to my kids and that's not right, it just doesn't feel right so I have to apologise.


"Another guy who was completely drunk was poking me in the chest in The Yard and his attitude was these guys should all be fired.

"That was his attitude. And I was thinking, just stand back and say, so if you had any player, and I will talk hypothetically here, who had been out drinking and you said that automatically you are always going to fire them, the financial implications are a nightmare.

Derby County players Mason Bennett and Tom Lawrence have been charged after a crash in Derby
Derby County players Mason Bennett and Tom Lawrence were convicted of drink-driving after a crash in Derby

"But is it punishment in some cases? Because if you were a professional footballer and you knew that if you got drunk I would fire you, you could gain quite easily. Just go and get drunk Gary and I will release you from your contract.

"You then got to Leeds in January and on a free transfer and you are going to get a £1.5m signing bonus and £500,000 a year more salary. Is that punishment Gary?

"So it's not as simple as people think when they think about these issues. And I actually think, in the case of two of the lads,they have to come out and face our crowd every game now and the only way they can improve on this is on the field, that's all they can do."

Lawrence and Bennett were sentenced at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court on October 15 after admitting drink-driving and failing to stop at the scene of an accident.

They both received a 12-month community order involving 180 hours of unpaid work, plus a two-year driving ban.

They were also fined six weeks' wages by Derby County. The club also ordered the pair to serve 80 hours of community service and rehabilitation.


Of course, he had to bring Leeds into it - what a numpty of the lowest order!

Derby not having a good day so far.
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Richard Keogh has secured a payout of about £2.3m from Derby after winning his long-running compensation claim against them. The 34-year-old defender, who finished the season at Huddersfield, brought an action for breach of contract in the wake of his sacking by Derby in October 2019.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/may/11/richard-keogh-awarded-more-than-2m-in-breach-of-contract-case-against-derby
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An Independent League Arbitration Panel has allowed the EFL’s appeal against the outcome of an independent Disciplinary Commission in respect of misconduct charges brought against Derby County.

The panel concluded that the Disciplinary Commission was wrong to dismiss the League’s expert accountancy evidence, which demonstrated that the Club’s policy regarding the amortisation of player registrations was contrary to standard accounting rules.

https://www.efl.com/news/2021/may/efl-statement-derby-county

Seems deserved, why do we think that?