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.

It was in April of this year that Newcastle Employment Tribunal ruled the club should pay the hefty sum to Helen Coverdale for lost earnings in relation to her dismissal claim against the club.

The Newcastle panel heard how Quaker's chairman, George Reynolds had decided not to renew the 34-year-old's fixed term contract when it expired after two years.

But after a lengthy hearing the panel ruled in favour of Miss Coverdale and ordered she be paid £61,000 which included £48,788 for unfair dismissal and a sum of £12,400 for a contractural claim.

The panel's decision prompted multi millionaire, Mr Reynolds, to pledge to fight the order and on Monday the case came before an Employment Appeal Tribunal hearing in London where the Club was given leave to appeal.

Damian McCarthy, barrrister representing the Club, asked the Tribunal to look into the purchase by Ms Coverdale of a Post Office within 10 days of the hearing along with the receipts from newspaper coverage.

In a statement yesterday Mr Reynolds welcomed the new move and added: "I thought when a fixed term contract ended that would have been it. I have always said that we were happy with Ms Coverdale's work but I was very surprised at the amount of the award. I think the panel in Newcastle may have got carried away.''

Darlington FC are being represented by Roiter Zucker solicitors of London and a partner in the firm, Gordon Turner, told The Northern Echo yesterday: "Normally findings of fact in an employment tribunal are final and it is only in rare circumstances that an appeal will be allowed.''

In an official statement he added:"Certain information has come to light after the hearing earlier this year and Mr Reynolds is grateful that the Employment Appeal Tribunal have given leave to appeal and look at this as well as other points raised.

"We will have to wait for the outcome of the hearing which might result in the case being sent back to an Employment Tribunal to look at all the facts afresh.''

The Northern Echo attempted to speak to Ms Coverdale at her Post Office in Kirk Merrington yesterday but was told "she is out for the day.''

We asked that Ms Coverdale contact us to give her views on the appeal decision but she failed to respond to the request.