'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
FC Ilves is a Finnish club based in Tampere, also known as Tampereen Ilves. Until, last Sunday, it was managed by ex-Sunderland, Newport County and Scunthorpe United player, Keith Armstrong. The reason they are in the limelight right now is because Armstrong was sacked by the club on 7 October because he chose to provide expert analysis on the Finnish television channel MTV Sport instead of helping out his team in an important match against SJK, which the team eventually lost 2-1.
The club released a statement thanking Armstrong for his service to the club, and that he could take whatever career path he desired. “A common path is no longer found in the future,” the statement read.
Surprisingly, Armstrong has done a fairly good job for the team this term. He had all but guided them to safety with three games to go. The club have appointed Marco Baruffato as caretaker manager for their next three fixtures and stated their intention to finish the campaign in sixth place. They currently occupy the 8th position in a 12-team league.
But the Englishman is not letting this sacking go easily. He now wishes to file a lawsuit against the club, stating: “The matter isn’t as clear-cut as portrayed in the public.”
He stresses on the fact that his assistant coach, captain and players knew that he would not be attending Sunday’s game. His lawyer released a statement saying, “He was not financially compensated for loss of TV work. He took over a first division club who were unexpectedly promoted, but his contract hasn’t changed.
“He regrets the negative publicity this has attracted to Ilves, the league and Finnish football.”
After working as sporting director of SJK for two years, Armstrong was appointed as the new manager of FC Ilves on 24 October 2014. But, unfortunately, he was not able to even complete a year with the club.
The whole incident was reported by a website named Escape to Suomi, which extensively covers Finnish football.
