Former SANFL South Adelaide coach Ron Fuller claims contract breach, wants damages from 'obstinate' Panthers

SACKED South Adelaide coach Ron Fuller has taken the club to court, claiming he is still owed a payout despite "long and boring" negotiations.

WHEN he was sacked from his job as South Adelaide coach, Ron Fuller said he wished the club "and all the fine people associated with it" every success.

On Monday, he told the Adelaide Magistrates Court his former club was being "obstinate and intransigent" about his pay out, and asked it be ordered to pay him damages.

He urged the court to send the matter to immediate trial, claiming "long and boring conversations" with the Panthers had failed to hammer out a viable settlement.

Fuller - once considered among the most successful SANFL coaches of the modern era - has filed a breach of contract lawsuit against the club.

He was a premiership coach with Woodville-West Torrens before joining South Adelaide in 2010, prior to which he had an overall win-rate of 64 per cent.

In August, Fuller was released from his five-year contract with one year remaining on the deal.

During his time as coach, the Panthers won 23 of 81 games and, in 2013, lost four games by more than 100 points - including a 117-point defeat to West Adelaide.

In a statement on his departure, Fuller said he "would like to wish the South Adelaide Football Club and all the fine people associated with it, every success for the future".

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Today David Wilson, for Fuller, told the court relations between the parties had soured since the issuing of that press release.

"This matter has been the subject of long and boring conversations with solicitors for the club," he said.

"There seems to be a basic misunderstanding of the difference between an open-ended contract which can be renewed upon discussion, and a fixed-term contract - which is what my client had.

"As such we are seeking damages for the breach of contract because my client is suffering further prejudice by virtue of not having employment."

Mr Wilson said the figure sought by his client was "negotiable".

South Adelaide was represented in court by its chief executive, Evan Arnold.

Mr Arnold told the court he had sought legal advice prior to the hearing.

"We've made two separate (settlement) offers to the plaintiff, both of which have been rejected," he said.

"No alternative has been offered."

Magistrate Penelope Eldridge suggested the matter be set down for a conciliation hearing, but Mr Wilson said there was "no point".

"This is a basic misunderstanding of contract law, and I don't want my client to suffer further prejudice by losing an early trial date," he said.

Ms Eldridge said she would list the matter for trial in May - however, she ordered the parties attend a conciliation conference in March to try and resolve the matter.