Curbs ready to manage again

League Managers' Association chief Richard Bevan has tipped former West Ham boss Alan Curbishley to make a swift return to football after he won his claim against the club for constructive dismissal.

• Curbishley wins unfair dismissal case

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Alan Curbishley has managed West Ham and Charlton Athletic in the Premeir League.

The Hammers now face the prospect of a seven-figure compensation pay-out after a Premier League managers' arbitration tribunal upheld Curbishley's claim.

The claim came after he resigned at the start of last season following the sale of Anton Ferdinand and George McCartney to Sunderland against his wishes.

"I would imagine Alan's experience as a manager and his many years in the game means it will not be long before he is back in work." Bevan told Sky Sports News.

"I'm sure without doubt he will be back in work in the not too distant future. I'm sure everyone in the game would love to see it.''

The tribunal will now assess the level of compensation West Ham must pay - a similar case brought by Kevin Keegan against Newcastle for constructive dismissal saw the Magpies ordered to pay £2million in damages plus £1.5million in legal costs.

Curbishley has not worked since his Upton Park exit and Bevan hopes to avoid such drawn-out processes in the future.

"Taking 14, 15 months out of Alan's life is very hard for him and his family, as it was for Kevin Keegan and others,'' Bevan said.

"It's certainly one of our goals moving forward to try to reduce the time of any arbitration, mediation or any legal process to try to sort the termination following a manager or coach leaving a club.''

And Bevan insisted Curbishley's case illustrates no business is above the law.

"Whether you are a football club or any business I think it is important you have to abide by employment law. You need to implement good communication, you've got to make sure your business is following good leadership and I think you have to respect contracts and if you have clear roles, clear responsiblities, cases like this taking many months out of people's lives wouldn't happen.''

"It's certainly one of our goals moving forward to try to reduce the time of any arbitration, mediation or any legal process to try to sort the termination following a manager or coach leaving a club.''

And Bevan insisted Curbishley's case illustrates no business is above the law.

"Whether you are a football club or any business I think it is important you have to abide by employment law. You need to implement good communication, you've got to make sure your business is following good leadership and I think you have to respect contracts and if you have clear roles, clear responsiblities, cases like this taking many months out of people's lives wouldn't happen.''