Derby County sue ex-chief executive Sam Rush for £6.8m over excessive transfer fees, player wages and agent payments
Rush was dismissed last year for gross misconduct but new claims are being investigated by the FA
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DERBY COUNTY are suing their former chief executive Sam Rush for £6.8million in the High Court, according to reports.
Details of the claim against Rush - who was dismissed last year for gross misconduct after more than four years at the club - are laid out for the first time in the club's annual financial report, say the .
The matter is being investigated by the Football Association. It is believed club officials have also taken their concerns to police.
The club are pursuing Rush in a civil action while Rush has counter-claimed for about £2m for breach of contract and an "alleged five per cent shareholding", which it is thought the lawyer received for his role in Mel Morris' takeover of the club in 2015.
Rush won a case against the Rams last month for unfair dismissal.
The financial report states: "On 3 May 2017 the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Club was dismissed for gross misconduct and a breach of fiduciary duty.
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"The Club's parent company Sevco 5112 Limited, the CEO's employer, issued proceedings against him in the High Court on 22 December 2017.
"The claim relates to certain contracts entered into by the Club including: '(a) scouting and consultancy agreements which were not authorised by the Board of Directors; (b) transfer fees in respect of players that were above the figure agreed by the Board; (c) wages in excess of what was agreed with and/or notified to the Board; and (d) the payment of excessive fees to agents which were also unauthorised by the Board.
"The claim is for the sum of £6,841,107.60. The Club is also seeking an indemnity from the former CEO in relation to significant contingent liabilities that will crystallise in the future.
"The former CEO counter-claims against Sevco 5112 Limited for circa £2 million for breach of contract and for an alleged 5 per cent shareholding."
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It is understood much of the focus of the claim is on deals involving Rush's former employers at Wasserman Media Group, where Rush was the head of their European operation.
Between 2015 and 2016, Derby signed five WMG clients, including Darren Bent and Jason Shackell.
New Reading manager Paul Clement, who was appointed boss in June 2015 and sacked the following February, was also a WMG client.