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AAP
AAP
National
Miklos Bolza

Head coach to expand case against Sydney Flames

Sydney Flames head coach Shane Heal will expand his case against the club as he fights a suspension and possible termination after bullying allegations were made against him.

In a brief Federal Court case management hearing on Wednesday afternoon, Heal's barrister Bilal Rauf said his client would bring further claims against the Flames.

"The substantive claim that Your Honour has before you, it relates to alleged contraventions of the adverse action provision but that does need to be amended to include breach of contract," he told Justice Melissa Perry.

Heal will also be seeking employee entitlements such as accrued leave which he claims he is owed by the club.

Sydney Flames' barrister Paul Moorhouse said the club promised not to terminate Heal's employment while the lawsuit was ongoing provided that a five-day expedited hearing was held by June.

In return, Heal has promised to pay the Flames compensation for damages which result from this undertaking.

An urgent mediation held last week failed to resolve the case.

The head coach has been absent from the Women's National Basketball League since multiple players approached the Flames with bullying complaints in early January.

An investigation was carried out and Heal was suspended in the process. Findings of misconduct were made on February 3 with a show cause notice issued to Heal before his possible dismissal.

The notable basketballer, who denies any allegations of wrongdoing, sued the Flames in the Federal Court over alleged breaches of employment law.

He is seeking penalties and orders blocking the club from firing him.

Flames owner Paul Smith and president Victoria Denholm are also alleged to have been involved in the breaches.

This is the second Federal Court case to have been launched against the Sydney Flames with former head coach and CEO Karen Dalton accusing the "boys club" of discrimination and gender disparity.

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