Ex-Hearts boss needed staff, tribunal hears

THE former manager of Heart of Midlothian FC has revealed he wasn't just missing a striker during his time with the club – but a secretary too.

Csaba Laszlo was appearing as a witness yesterday at an employment tribunal in Edinburgh where his former employers are accused of sex discrimination.

Football secretary Louise Mackenzie alleges she lost out on work at the club after returning from maternity leave part-time.

When a second secretary was appointed in July 2009, home match-day hours – which Ms Mackenzie says she was contractually entitled to – were taken away from her.

The former Hearts boss – who yesterday described himself as "unemployed" following his sacking by the club in January –

said he needed full-time secretarial cover seven days a week.

Mr Laszlo explained how he had discussed with Anatoliy Karobochka, the director of football, appointing another member of secretarial staff.

Mr Laszlo said: "I spoke with Anatoliy Karobochka in this time about the two secretaries but I didn't speak to him about names.

"We didn't have a secretary and we needed someone full-time to be always there."

The HR department responded to Mr Laszlo's request by bringing in Louise Clark as a second football secretary, her contract specifying she covered match days.

Concerned about the employment contract offered to her, Ms Mackenzie met David Southern, the club's marketing and communications director, to address a number of issues.

Mr Southern told the tribunal he thought he had made it clear to Ms Mackenzie that she wasn't entitled to the hours and that she had accepted this.

He said: "She intimated that she wanted to work match days and, as I understood, all match days.

"My understanding was that, from the club perspective, match-day working wasn't an entitlement but it was requested when necessary by the club.

"It was a very amicable meeting for its duration. I saw the meeting as very positive, she was very open and I was very open as well and I saw it as a successful meeting."

The tribunal will continue on Friday.