Former Galway United manager ‘destitute’

Date Published: 21-Feb-2013

BY KEITH KELLY

Former Galway United manager Seán Connor is reportedly living in destitution in South Africa as he battles to secure a payoff of almost US$100,000 which was awarded to him after he was sacked by Zimbabwe club, CAPS United.

Connor – who presided over a 22-game losing run when in charge of Galway United in the 2011 season, the worst run not only in United’s history but in the 89-year history of the League of Ireland – is believed to be living in a two-room cottage which has no running water as he tries to secure the US€99,640 which he was awarded after he and his entire backroom team were sacked in August.

The Belfast native was unveiled as manager of Zimbabwe Premier League side CAPS United in January 2012, but he was sacked just eight months later after the side had lost four games on the bounce, including a 1-0 defeat in the a local derby with Harare Dynamos.

According to the Zimbabwean Herald, Connor has written to a friend saying he is sleeping on the floor of a two-room cottage as he battles to secure the payoff which was awarded to him by the Commercial Arbitration Centre in Zimbabwe.

He had signed a two-year contract with CAPS United worth a reputed US$4,000 a month, and he sought as settlement of US$122,000 when he was sacked. The club offered US$15,000, which resulted in the matter going to arbitration, with the court finding largely in Connor’s favour.

However, CAPS United have appealed that judgement, and the matter is headed for the courts. To further complicate matters for Connor, he is believed to have been ordered to leave Zimbabwe by the country’s Department of Immigration because of issues over his visa, which is why he finds himself living in South Africa as he awaits his payoff from the club.

For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.