West Brom boss Tony Pulis bites tongue after High Court ruling



The 58-year-old must also pay costs and interest on the fine which comes from him walking out on the Eagles in 2014.

Judge Sir Michael Burton ruled against him after a hearing in London last month with d etails emerging in a written ruling published on Monday

Arbitrators concluded "By any standards his conduct (prior to and during the litigation) has been shown to be disgraceful" and that Pulis had not been "committed to the club" when he quit in August 2014 after receiving a £2million bonus, but the West Brom manager denied the claims

He said: "Obviously I've got to bite my tongue a little bit at the moment

I'm really disappointed with the outcome and strenuously deny what has been said

But it's been done

I have to move on and we have to move on

I had 10 fantastic months at Crystal Palace

"The first game I went and watched was at Hull when they had three points from 11 games and then that season we finished 11th in the league

It was a fantastic achievement, the players were brilliant, the supporters were fantastic.

"They're great memories for me and nothing will take that away from me

But I've got to move on

I've got a massive job here, a job I'm enjoying, we're flying at the moment, we've had a real good run

There's plenty of confidence at the moment, the supporters are enjoying it, which is really good as well

That's important.

"One day, and it can't be now, but one day hopefully I'll get the chance to actually pick this through with everybody."

The judge said the tribunal analysed evidence after Palace bosses complained about the way Pulis left the club.

He said Pulis had a contract which included a £2million bonus if he kept Palace in the Premier League in 2013-14 and stayed in the manager's job until August 31 2014.

Pulis kept Palace in the top flight, finishing 11th, but walked out of the club on August 14 and the Eagles complained Pulis had deceived them into paying the bonus early by saying he was "committed" to the club and "urgently needed the money early" so he could buy some land for his children.

Pulis had said he only wanted to leave if it was "mutually agreeable for him to leave on the eve of the new season", and that it had been "mutually agreeable".

The ex-Stoke manager also said he will speak candidly about the issue in the future and refused to rule out appealing when asked.

He added: "I know a lot of people, friends, family, people in this room and others, I'll let them judge my integrity and character

I can't say too much

I've been advised by lawyers not to say too much at this present moment, but there will come a time.

"That's all I want to say at the moment

Let's move on to football and West Bromwich Albion which is much more important to me."

Pulis' side host Watford on Saturday ninth in the Premier League but could be without striker Salomon Rondon who went home from training with tonsillitis on Thursday

Source : PA

Source: PA