Cork City soccer club manager Damien Richardson is to leave his position following the settlement yesterday of his High Court proceedings.
Mr Justice Kevin Feeney was told Mr Richardson and the club had come to an "amicable resolution".
In a joint statement afterwards, Mr Richardson said that, arising out of talks yesterday between both sides, he was leaving the club. He thanked the players and supporters who made his tenure so enjoyable and he wished the club and its new owners continued success.
The club said it was "very grateful" for Mr Richardson's commitment and hard work as reflected in the recent winning of the FAI Cup and it wished him every success in his future career.
Last Monday, Mr Richardson was given leave by the High Court to apply for an injunction preventing Cork City Football Club Investments Ltd from removing him as manager.
The case was made returnable to the court yesterday and the judge was told earlier in the day by Marguerite Bolger, for the club, that it was prepared to give an undertaking not to dismiss him pending the hearing of the case.
However, following further discussions between the sides, Frank Callanan SC, for Mr Richardson, said the matter had been resolved and could be struck out when it is up for mention on January 14th.
Mr Richardson, The Terrace, Curraheen, Cork had claimed, in a sworn statement to the court, that there had been "a concerted and deliberate effort" to undermine his position over the past number of months.
Moves to end his fixed term contract with the club until the end of the 2009 season were premature and would be destructive of his reputation, professional standing and future employment prospects, he said.
He claimed the club, through public statements, has shown it is intent on rendering his position "intolerable". If he was sacked without explanation it would "effectively destroy my career in football management", he said. He and his family were under "immense stress and anxiety".
Mr Richardson, a former Irish international who has managed teams in both Ireland and England, has been manager of Cork City since 2005, when he signed a two-year contract. In March last, Cork City was bought by a UK investment firm called Arkaga.
Last August, after a series of negotiations with the club, he agreed a further two-year contract of employment with the club. He claimed that contract included a new salary and a car allowance that was to be backdated to January 31st, 2007.
He was furnished with a copy of the new contract on August 31st last but said the document did not reflect the agreement over the backdating of the salary or the car allowance.
He spoke to the club's general manager, Aidan Tynan, and he said they came to an agreement over the issues that caused him concern. However, he was never given an amended contract, he said.
On December 1st, on the eve of the FAI Cup final, which Cork won, he had a meeting with the chairman of Cork City, Brian Lennox, concerning the rumours about his future at the club.
He claimed Mr Lennox told him his position at the club was terminated.
Mr Richardson also denied claims, put in a statement issued by Cork City, that he had received offers from other clubs.