Former Ice Hockey Boss Sues For Wrongful Dismissal

[Mulboyne]

Nikkan Sports reports (Japanese) that Siegfried Aikman, the former coach of Japan's national hockey team, is suing for wrongful dismissal. The Dutchman was appointed in 2009, with a contract until the London Olympics in 2012, but was removed last February after a poor showing at the Asian championships. Aikman maintains that he was told this result would not affect his employment and the article points out his sudden dismissal appears to have been decided upon without any consultation with the sport's board of directors.

Meanwhile, in other news, Mark Mahon, has confirmed that the country's ice hockey team will not participate in the World Championship qualifiers later this month. ""It's a very sensitive situation," the Canadian-born coach told Reuters. "On the one side the players were motivated to play for their country. It would be nice if the sport could have stepped up and shown some leadership. But there are no words to describe the pain the country feels from this tragedy and the loss of life."

[EDIT: As comments below show, Aikman was the field hockey coach, not ice hockey, so the headline and text have been corrected accordingly.]

[matsuki]

Sounds like they tried that "make him quit" typical Japanese method that won't fly with foreigners. Fuck em, if his contract was as he says and they want to replace him, gotta pay.

Pretty lame that they won't compete in the World Championship qualifiers though. If anything, this country needs all the distraction possible.

[Pearse]

I'm just wondering (and often wrong) but maybe ice hockey and field hockey are mixed up here.

[Pearse]

I think Mr. Aikman was Japan's "Field" hockey coach. Uh-oh, run for cover from the ensuing fight over whether "hockey" means the melee fought on grass or ice....

[canman]

Pearse, you are right. When I read the headline I was surprised since Mark Mahon has been the national hockey coach for the past 6 years. I know him and knew that he hadn't been fired. I also know the women's coach and it wasn't an Austrian. Anyway, they should live up to the contract, but they will try to weasle out of it. Also I think the hockey team should have played as most of the players are from Hokkaido or Aomori. Only a few of them are from Iwate, Miyagi.

[Mulboyne]

Sorry guys, my mistake entirely. Both these articles were grouped together in Google News so I jumped to the wrong conclusion and didn't double check. A Dutch coach certainly makes a lot more sense for field hockey than ice hockey.

[matsuki]

I think the hockey team should have played as most of the players are from Hokkaido or Aomori. Only a few of them are from Iwate, Miyagi.

THIS

Those fuckers are fast too!