Post by QPR Report on Oct 2, 2009 7:22:43 GMT
Paulo Sousa fights on in legal battle with QPR
Oct 2 2009 by Blair Wood, Western Mail
SWANSEA CITY boss Paulo Sousa has revealed he is still embroiled in a legal battle against former employers Queens Park Rangers following his controversial sacking six months ago.
And, having initially played down Rangers’ visit to the Liberty Stadium, the Portuguese admitted he would get “a lot of satisfaction” from beating the west London outfit this weekend.
Axed by QPR earlier this year, Sousa’s dismissal from Loftus Road after just 26 games in charge remains a talking point.
The former Champions League winner has tried his best to remain tight-lipped, while the QPR players have not spoken to the media about his departure.
The club itself released a statement at the time stating the 38-year-old had his contract terminated for “divulging highly confidential and sensitive information” without permission.
Rangers’ hierarchy were reported to have taken exception to the fact Sousa told the media striker Dexter Blackstock’s loan move to Nottingham Forest was agreed without his knowledge.
The Swans boss still insists he did nothing wrong, and revealed for the first time that the dispute is being taken through legal channels.
“These things get dealt with in the courts,” he explained at the Swans’ open pre-match press conference ahead of the QPR game.
“That’s the way I can fight it. My case against them has always been in the courts from the beginning and it is still there now. It is not public knowledge though.
“They made a statement on the club website and sent me a letter saying why I was leaving. But I don’t agree with it.
“It was about me divulging sensitive information. I don’t know what that is about.”
Asked what stage proceedings were at now, he responded: “I don’t know.
“My lawyer knows what I want and he is paid to take care of it.
“I just concentrate on my work at Swansea. It’s not something I think about now.”
As Swansea prepare to host QPR tomorrow, Sousa’s revelations will simply add more fuel to speculation surrounding his departure.
And, while doing his best to remain coy, the Portuguese admitted there is still plenty more of the story to tell.
While previously refusing to comment on his feelings towards Rangers owner Flavio Briatore, Sousa could not resist taking a veiled swipe at the Italian in the wake of his Formula One race fixing furore.
Briatore now faces a Football League investigation to see whether his lifetime ban from F1, violates their “fit and proper person test”.
The suggestion now is that fellow owner Lakshmi Mittal will buy the 59-year-old’s stake in the club.
“What I know is good things have happened at the club and the Mittal family is the best solution for their future, in my view,” said Sousa.
“I hope everything comes good for them. Not against us obviously but, after that, I hope they resolve their problems.
“But they are not my problems anymore.”
Referring to his own departure, he continued: “I was not surprised when I left the club so soon.
“I don’t like to talk about these things. I have already said a lot and the truth will come out in time.
“In Portugal we say it’s like getting oil from olives. Sometimes it takes a little longer to get the oil but it always comes out in the end.”
Despite all the controversy surrounding his exit from QPR, Sousa initially said there was no extra incentive to beat tomorrow’s visitors, claiming: “I feel the same about this game as I do the others.”
But, when pressed on the issue, the Swans boss conceded victory this weekend would mean more to him than just three points.
That doesn’t mean the former Juventus star feels he has anything to prove against Rangers. In fact, having received plenty of praise from QPR fans and players alike for his time in charge, he is adamant the opposite is true.
As hard as he tried to play it down, even Sousa had to admit revenge would be sweet should the Swans come out on top this weekend.
“Of course it would be nice to get a result against them,” he said. “Not just because it is against QPR but because it is something we are looking for and something that can help us climb the table.
“I want to win every game. But it would give me a lot of satisfaction to do it against them.”
As for whether he has anything to prove against his former employers, Sousa added: “I am happy with what I did at Rangers because the recognition has come from my former players, both during and after my time there.
“As a manager my first job is to increase the quality of my players and, when I see they are happy because they felt they were developing every day with my training sessions, part of my job is done.
“The supporters also gave me a lot recognition after I left. A lot of people were saying good things about me and I was happy about that.”
www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/football-news/2009/10/02/paulo-sousa-fights-on-in-legal-battle-with-qpr-91466-24832650/
