Darlington FC chairman George Reynolds has lost an industrial tribunal case brought by an ex-employee.

Former bar supervisor Tracy Bailey, from Darlington, took the football club to court claiming unfair dismissal.

The tribunal, which heard the case in Newcastle last month, ordered that Mr Reynolds pay the 28-year-old £8,500 compensation to make up for lost earnings.

The chairman told the hearing that he had sacked Miss Bailey because she had been late for work 60 times and had not turned up for work on 40 occasions.

But the written judgement issued by the tribunal stated that the club had failed to take proper action about her conduct before dismissing her.

Last night, a furious Mr Reynolds said: "It is ridiculous when somebody is late for work 60 times and 40 times does not turn up for work. We did not do the right procedures but neither did she."

The tribunal heard how Miss Bailey, an employee for 19 months, was sacked after failing to turn up for work on June 9 last year, due to sickness.

Miss Bailey could not be contacted for comment.

The club is still awaiting a decision from the tribunal about its former commercial manager, Helen Coverdale, 34, who is also claiming unfair dismissal against the club.