Speaking after the mediation today St Kilda Football Club CEO, Michael Nettlefold, had the following to say:
“We entered today’s proceedings with an open mind and in the interests of all at St Kilda Football Club we tried our best to obtain a satisfactory resolution. However, the claim made by Andrew Lovett’s representatives was not something the Club could reasonably agree to.
As our members, sponsors and other stakeholders would expect, we have obtained legal advice from independent expert employment law barristers who advised us that the Club was legally entitled to terminate Andrew Lovett’s employment contract.
Andrew was accused of rape on December 24, 2009. The Club continued providing Andrew with full payment while considering its position and awaiting the outcome of the Victoria Police investigation. During this period the Club also provided Andrew with a comprehensive training program and resources. Andrew was then subsequently charged with rape by Victoria Police on February 15, 2010.
Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, a Club may dismiss a player where it deems that the player has brought the Club into disrepute. Which in this instance, St Kilda believes to be the case. Further, the Club formed the view that Andrew had also engaged in misconduct which is a ground for termination under his contract of employment.
The main reasons the Club believes that its decision to terminate Lovett’s employment on these grounds is justified, is because of his behaviour on December 23/24, 2009 and his failure to obey specific directions to contact Club officials in this type of situation.
The Club remains open to ongoing discussions with a view to reaching a reasonable settlement.”
