League Two side Hartlepool United have won a six-figure compensation case against Fulham over the 2019 transfer of youngster Luca Murphy.
The case had been ongoing ever since the player moved to Craven Cottage. After putting their case forward, the PFCC (Professional Footballers Compensation Committee) have now awarded Pools a substantial compensation fee.
Murphy, then aged 17, spent a short trial period at Fulham after they agreed a fee to bring him to the club. That was followed by the Cottagers suddenly ending their interest in the defender. Hartlepool then say that upon returning to the club "the previously exemplary scholar’s behaviour changed markedly to such an extent that it led to mutual termination of his contract in March 2019.
"Within just 11 days of that termination, Fulham signed Murphy on a two-year deal. Fulham subsequently refused to acknowledge that any compensation was due to Hartlepool. That remained the case for three years."
Murphy never made a senior appearance for Fulham and played just twice for their under-21s in the EFL Trophy back in 2020. The 20-year-old was released by the Cottagers last summer following their relegation from the Premier League.
Hartlepool chairman Raj Singh today spoke of his relief the matter is now over. “I’m obviously delighted that we have finally been granted this compensation," he said. "The circumstances and timeline around Luca’s departure speak for itself and we always considered that compensation was due. Luca was a player that was with us from the age of nine.
“I am however bitterly disappointed at the manner in which Fulham have conducted their business. As a club we did everything we possibly could to resolve this amicably for nearly three years and we’ve been ignored, seen delays and had technicalities thrown at us throughout.
"At the final hour Fulham even looked to offload players that they didn’t want as an alternative to paying due compensation. The compensation is probably a drop in the ocean for a big club like Fulham, but it is a large amount for Hartlepool United which at the time was a non-league club.
"It was also withheld during an incredibly difficult period that included the Covid pandemic. That approach could literally have sent our club to the wall.
“More recently Lee (Rust, senior advisor) and our legal team have had to pursue this claim to the fullest extent to get this result. On that note it is also important to highlight that despite us winning this case, we had to spend a large amount on fees and management time that, under current regulations, cannot be reclaimed. That has to change and I would urge the PFCC to look at this.
"Undoubtedly those costs and resources are a barrier for smaller clubs that don’t have in-house legal teams like Fulham. It will mean that many cases are going unchecked which is just wrong and against the spirit of the game. It’s something that I felt that we had to stand up to as a club.”
Fulham FC declined to comment when contacted by Mirror Football.
