Question for the Legal Experts

[When Hell Unfreezes]

I don’t see a problem with Chelski aspiring to win something, but is it not a fundamental change of Ranieri’s contract, to expect to win something this season, because of the investment?

And the pressure CR has been under in the press and other media certainly justifies the doctrine of the ‘last straw’!

Constructive dismissal, is it not?

[comme]

Well I don't think it is a legal change in the terms of his contract. It is simply additional pressure.
In the event that he was sacked for failure to win a trophy, I don't think that Chelsea would haggle about compensation.

[When Hell Unfreezes]

Originally posted by comme
Well I don't think it is a legal change in the terms of his contract. It is simply additional pressure.
In the event that he was sacked for failure to win a trophy, I don't think that Chelsea would haggle about compensation.

But the point is, is he entitled to walk?

The accumulation of pressure, both internally and externally could meet the criteria of the 'last straw' - with my limited legal knowledge, I think he would be justified in walking away!

[skipshady]

Originally posted by When Hell Unfreezes
But the point is, is he entitled to walk?

The accumulation of pressure, both internally and externally could meet the criteria of the 'last straw' - with my limited legal knowledge, I think he would be justified in walking away! I really don't see how the last straw doctrine could possibly apply here since it fails on so many levels.

Here are the questions you have to ask:
1a. Is the additional pressure result of specific actions taken by the ownership, rather than Chelsea becoming significantly richer, i.e. is Abramovic going to the press saying "Championship or bust" or already planning a victory parade or building a guillotine with the inscription "For Claudio, from Roman"?

1b. Are these actions repeated frequently?

1c. If Abramovic were to stop taking such actions, would the press stop putting pressure on Ranieri?

2. Has Ranieri asked Abramovic to stop taking specific actions that increase pressure on him (as opposed to simply saying "This pressure is unreasonable")?
If so, has the ownership ignored such requests? That is to say, if Ranieri asked Abramovic to stop inflating balloons that say "Chelsea - Premiership Champions '03-'04", did Abramovic turn around and order 200 more balloons that say "If we don't win, it's Ranieri's fault"?

3. Is it unreasonable or unusual for a club's board to change expectations on a manager from season to season based on the club's resources?

4. Is there anything in Ranieri's contract that protects him from unreasonable expectations or ultimatums?

[Alan_V]

And if he did walk away, his chances of finding employment at a similar level would be significantly impared.