Sidelined Montpellier coach Fabien Galthie has taken club president Mohed Altrad to an employment tribunal, judicial sources said Thursday, after being relieved of his responsibilities.
Galthie was effectively replaced as coach in late December when Altrad brought in South African World Cup winner Jake White to replace the former France captain.
Since then, former scrumhalf Galthie has been officially suspended from his duties, although he remains employed by the French Top 14 outfit.
Galthie’s complaint stems from his claim that he is no longer occupying a role that conforms with his employment contract, which will run until June 2017.
The two men are due to meet on March 30 to try to find an amicable solution, otherwise the case will go to the tribunal.
According to sources, the main issue is financial, with a potential €2 million Euros in play.
If Altrad was to actually fire Galthie, which he effectively has been as he’s been replaced by White, he would owe the coach a huge pay-out, whereas should Galthie quit, he would not receive anything like the same amount.
Galthie was pushed aside following a run of 8 defeats from 9 games when White was hired, officially as a consultant, to essentially take over as coach.
The 45-year-old Frenchman was given a desk job but he spent only 1 day in it before leaving the club’s training complex, deeming his new role to not conform to his job title of manager.
Since then he has continued to perform his other job as a commentator for a French television channel.
Galthie joined Montpellier in 2010 having coached Stade Francais from 2004 to 2008.
He has been tipped as a likely successor to current France coach Philippe Saint-Andre following the World Cup later this year.
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