Sacked coach Arthur comes back to Australia, fires another salvo at CA

Exasperated at his sudden removal, Mickey Arthur said his unfair sacking was the result of a ‘deliberate campaign’ against him but Cricket Australia has challenged his claim. Arthur, who had been in South Africa after his unceremonious exit ahead of Ashes tour and sought compensation through legal means, returned to Australia on Sunday and read out a statement before media.

Arthur said his sacking was unfair as he was given a positive appraisal by Cricket Australia before the Ashes tour and that his removal has damaged his reputation. ‘After my dismissal, I received nothing in writing from Cricket Australia, no contact and no payment at all, not even my basic leave pay, until I was forced to bring in lawyers to assist in the process,’ he read from a statement.

‘I had tried on a number of occasions to make direct contact at a very senior level of Cricket Australia but for days there was just no response.’ Cricket Australia though said it stands by its earlier statements on the matter and ‘disputes a number of claims made by Arthur today.’ ‘We will not be articulating these disputes publicly except to say that we are confident in our legal position, are comfortable with the level of support provided to Mickey and look forward to resolving this matter in an appropriate manner,’ CA said in a statement.

Arthur reiterated he did not leak his legal action against Cricket Australia to media and that he had hoped of a resolution through talks. Arthur filed a Aus four million case to the Fair Work Commission for his sacking, which was leaked to media along with his claims of division in the Australian cricket team.
‘Selective leaks by others have ruined my attempts to protect the Australian cricket team and everyone involved. As I’ve said, no one associated with me has played any part in releasing that confidential document. In spite of what has been a deliberate campaign against me in the past days, I am still willing to resolve this dispute on a fair and just basis,’ Arthur said.