IN A rare legal move, Darlington Football Club has been granted the right to appeal against the £61,000 it was ordered to pay a former employee.

Newcastle Employment Tribunal ruled that the club should pay the sum to Helen Coverdale last April for lost earnings in relation to her dismissal claim against the club.

The Newcastle panel 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.

But the panel ruled in favour of Miss Coverdale and ordered that she be paid £61,000, including £48,788 for unfair dismissal and £12,400 for a contractual claim.

Now, an employment appeal tribunal hearing in London has given the club leave to appeal.

Mr Reynolds said: "I have always said that we were happy with Miss Coverdale's work, but I was very surprised at the amount of the award."

Miss Coverdale was not available for comment yesterday.