The director of rugby with Young Munster Rugby Football Club has initiated High Court proceedings challenging the proposed termination of his employment from June 30th.
Mr Justice Smyth yesterday granted Mr Roderick Horan, for Mr Rowly Williams, Fitzhaven Square, Limerick, leave to bring proceedings against the executive committee of the club on Monday and an interim injunction restraining the club from terminating Mr Williams's appointment before then.
Mr Williams (42) took up his position with Young Munster in August 2002. In May 2002 his overall package was agreed, with a €4,000 bonus if the club was promoted to Division 1 at the end of the year.
On May 14th, 2002, his agent received an e-mail confirming "the club's offer of a two-year appointment" with "a contract or an agreement depending on what suits".
On April 8th, 2003, he was told the club could not afford to have him the next year, but that the decision was purely financial and his performance was not in question.
He had asked why the club had insufficient funds to pay his salary when he was employed on the basis of a two-year deal, but had not received a reply. He was told the club could pay his salary until the end of April last and could not when there was no rugby there.
Then he was told the club had come into a cash windfall and could continue to pay him for at least the next few months. He heard nothing, and his agent wrote to the club advising them that, unless the situation was immediately resolved, he would be forced to commence litigation.
At a meeting on May 22nd he was told by club officials that the club was going to have to release him, and he would be paid until the end of June 2003. His solicitors had written to the club sayng the proposal to terminate his contract was unlawful, but no response had been received.