Darlington Football Club has lost an appeal against an order to pay £61,188 to a former employee.

An employment appeal tribunal hearing in London ruled that the original payout awarded to Helen Coverdale last April should stand.

The tribunal dismissed an appeal lodged by the Third Division Club after Newcastle Employment Tribunal ruled it should pay the ex-commercial manager £48,788 for unfair dismissal plus £12,400 for a contractual claim.

The tribunal heard that Quakers chairman George Reynolds had decided not to renew the 34-year-old's fixed-term contract when it expired after two years.

The former employee was sacked after it emerged she was having an affair with a director. Mr Reynolds claimed the affair had tarnished the small club's family image and told the tribunal panel in Newcastle that she had performed badly in her job.

However, the tribunal ruled in Miss Coverdale's favour. She was unavailable for comment last night.

Meanwhile, another appeal lodged by Darlington FC against a tribunal decision is to be heard in London on May 8.

The club is appealing against a decision to award £8,500 to former bar supervisor Tracy Bailey, who won a claim for unfair dismissal against the club at Newcastle Employment Tribunal in November 2001.

Mr Reynolds declined to comment last night.