Derby set to pay Richard Keogh £2million after he won an appeal over his dismissal

Derby must pay sacked captain Richard Keogh £2MILLION after he won an appeal over his dismissal following career-threatening knee injury suffered in drink-driving crash with team-mates in October 2019

  • Derby could have to pay their sacked former captain Richard Keogh around £2m
  • The defender won an appeal at a tribunal over his dismissal following a car crash 
  • He suffered serious knee injuries following alcohol-fuelled team bonding night
  • However, the club are preparing their own appeal against the tribunal’s verdict 

Derby face having to pay their sacked former captain Richard Keogh around £2million after he won an appeal at a tribunal over his dismissal following a car crash.

Keogh was left with a career-threatening knee injury following the accident and Derby terminated his contract.

But Sportsmail has learned that the former Republic of Ireland centre back has had his appeal upheld by an employment tribunal. So Derby have been ordered to make a financial settlement to Keogh, who had 21 months left on a contract worth £1.3m a year when he was dismissed.

Derby face having to pay their sacked former captain Richard Keogh around £2million after he won an appeal at a tribunal over his dismissal following a car crash 

The 33-year-old was a passenger in the crash that also involved team-mates Tom Lawrence and Mason Bennett

The 33-year-old was a passenger in the crash that also involved team-mates Tom Lawrence and Mason Bennett

Derby are understood to be preparing their own appeal against the tribunal’s verdict, although it has been claimed the club could be stalling due to financial problems as owner Mel Morris seeks to complete a proposed takeover by Derventio Holdings. 

There are fears the takeover could collapse as Sheik Khaled bin Zayed Al Nehayan is reportedly yet to provide proof of funds.

Keogh had his contract terminated by Derby in October 2019 following the car crash that also involved team-mates Tom Lawrence and Mason Bennett. 

The defender suffered a serious knee injury and did not play for over a year after the crash

The defender suffered a serious knee injury and did not play for over a year after the crash

The 34-year-old Keogh, who did not play for over a year after the crash in which he was a passenger, had appeals rejected by both Derby and the EFL before his success at an employment tribunal. 

Derby’s decision to sack Keogh contrasted with their treatment of the drivers of the two vehicles involved in the high-speed crash, Lawrence and Bennett, who were fined six weeks wages and ordered to do 80 hours of community service and rehabilitation. 

The pair were also found guilty of drink-driving at Derby Magistrates’ Court, a verdict which resulted in them being given a further fine, a two-year driving ban and another 180 hours of community service.

Keogh joined MK Dons last year after he was sacked by former club Derby in October 2019

Keogh joined MK Dons last year after he was sacked by former club Derby in October 2019

Keogh sustained cruciate knee ligament damage in the smash in which he was in the back seat of Lawrence’s Range Rover, which crashed into the rear of Bennett’s Mercedes before skidding across a roundabout and hitting a lamp-post on the A6 near Allestree, Derby. 

His contract was terminated when he did not accept Derby’s offer of a substantial reduction on his £1.3m-a-year deal. Keogh had made more than 300 appearances for the club.

He signed for MK Dons on a free transfer last summer and made 18 appearances this season before joining Huddersfield Town on Tuesday. Derby declined to comment.