A FORMER North-East clubs chief sacked over claims he misused an official credit card has dropped his case for unfair dismissal and accepted an undisclosed cash settlement.

Mick McGlasham has resigned as general secretary of the Club and Institiute Union (CIU) and will not be seeking re-election, after an agreement was reached yesterday.

The 62-year-old, who was Durham branch secretary for seven years and a former secretary of Horden Labour Club, had accused the CIU of breach of contract and failing to pay wages.

The case was due to be heard over three days in front of a judge at the London Central Employment Tribunal, but the two sides reached an 11th-hour deal yesterday.

In a joint statement issued after a full day of bargaining behind closed doors, the parties said: “There has been a legal dispute between Mr Mc- Glasham and the union. This relates to matters of serious concern.

“These matters were fully and properly investigated by the union at the time. Mr Mc- Glasham accepts that he made errors of judgement.

“The union and Mr Mc- Glasham have decided not to continue to argue about this in front of a judge. They have reached this decision on the basis it is in everyone’s best interests.

“Mr McGlasham resigns his position with immediate effect and will not seek reelection as general secretary.”

Mr McGlasham moved from his home in Peterlee, near Horden, to London when he was appointed national secretary more than two years ago.

But he and his deputy, Maxine Murphy, were dismissed last December after an investigation into the misuse of a CIU credit card, despite an internal investigation finding no evidence against them.

An independent barrister advised the CIU to reinstate them both following an appeal, but the CIU said they had “breached a fundamental implied term of their contracts”.

Mr McGlasham gained widespread support from clubs across the region when he announced he was taking the CIU to an employment tribunal.

Lawyers for both parties yesterday declined to answer further questions about the out-of-court agreement, including the sum awarded to Mr McGlasham.