Leeds owner Massimo Cellino 'treated me like a piece of meat', claims former female coach Lucy Ward

Ward has taken Leeds United to Tribunal after claiming she was unfairly dismissed due to her relationship with former manager Neil Redfearn

Massimo Cellino, left, has said he will stay away from Leeds games having indicated he will sell to a fans’ group (PA)

A sacked Leeds United welfare officer today said she was treated like "a piece of meat" by club owner Massimo Cellino who she claims dismissed her because she was "the baggage" of her partner Neil Redfearn - whom the Italian wanted to remove as manager.

Lucy Ward told the tribunal she had 11 years at the club without disciplinary blemish until, she claims, Mr Cellino decided he wanted Mr Redfearn out. The Italian and his new executive director Adam Pearson then "just gave me no dignity whatsoever as a businesswoman in my own right," she said. "[They] didn't have any respect for my career. I had a career before Neil arrived. I could have had a career after he had gone."

Leeds deny sex discrimination and unfair dismissal by sacking Ms Ward last year. The club claim that she took 16 days of unauthorised absence in a period of extended leave to work as a BBC analyst at the 2015 World Cup.

Ms Ward, who says the BBC issue was an excuse to remove her, today denied that she had "issues" with Mr Cellino and his ownership of the club, because of his decision to demote Mr Redfearn - her partner - from his position as first team manager.

Ms Ward said she had been accused by the club former chairman Andrew Umbers of influencing a national newspaper article which praised her work in helping young Leeds stars James Milner and Fabian Delph in their development before leaving the club. "The idea of me influencing a respected writer.. Is ridiculous," she said. Mr Umbers had said "he needed everyone's Twitter," Ms Ward added. "I was very uncomfortable."

Ms Bairstow also put it to Ms Ward that even if she has been sacked because she "came as a pair" with Mr Redfearn, then it would not have represented sex discrimination.

She replied: "There are no women coaches in football and there are no openly gay male coaches with male partners... who could be sacked," she said. "It could only happen to a woman and it happened to me."

The tribunal, in central Leeds, heard that the chairman of the club's women's team had been asked by Mr Cellino: "Why do women want to play football? Football is no place for women. It should be in the bedroom or beautician's."

Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino (Getty Images)

In over an hour’s cross-examination, Mr Pearson admitted to Ms Ward’s barrister, Nick Randall, that he knew she had asked her Leeds United line manager, Adam Underwood, for permission for extended absence to work for the BBC. He also admitted that he had no proof that she had been refused approval and that the club had always allowed to cover tournaments for the BBC previous years.

Mr Pearson blamed Mr Underwood for being both “vague” and evasive with him in their several conversations about Ms Ward and her request for extended leave – a subject he did not investigate with him until after he had suspended her. He said it should have been Mr Underwood in court, answering questions about what Ms Ward had been told. “I’m amazed that Mr Underwood is not here to be a witness to this because as far as I’m concerned his evidence is key,” Mr Pearson said.

Yet Mr Pearson, the former Derby County and Hull City owner, said he stood by the decision to sack Ms Ward. An email he had sent to Mr Underwood – beginning “Hi Ad” – sent four days before flying to Canada and requesting formal permission, had been inappropriate in tone and addressed to an executive of inadequate standing.

“Just to wander off for two months to take paid employment is disrespectful and discourteous,” Mr Pearson said. The fact that the club had recently been taken over by a new owner – Mr Cellino – compelled Ms Ward to seek approval from a higher level, he said.

Mr Pearson denied he was “lying” by claiming that the extended leave was an excuse to dismiss Ms Ward. “You were told to get rid of her by Mr Cellino, weren’t you?” Mr Randall said. “Everything you have said is inconsistent with an honest man setting off on a journey for the truth.” “No,” said Mr Pearson. The tribunal continues.