The first ever champion of the iconic 1990s show Gladiators, Weininger Irwin, and his wife have recently been awarded more than £15,000 in a successful legal battle against a London sports club. The couple, who managed the club, were unexpectedly dismissed via email when the club faced financial difficulties during the Covid-19 pandemic. Mr. Irwin, now 60, and his wife Janice, a former World and European Karate Champion, were working around 92 hours per week as the sole managers of Ilford Sports Club in east London.
The club’s board decided to furlough the couple at the start of the pandemic, but unfortunately, the club’s financial situation worsened. In August 2020, during a board meeting, it was revealed that the club had a mere 30p in its account and only 43p in its reserve account. Without consulting Mr. and Mrs. Irwin, the board emailed them to inform them of their redundancy.
In response, Mr. Irwin and his wife filed a lawsuit against Ilford Sports Club, claiming unfair dismissal. The employment tribunal ruled in their favor, awarding them a total of £15,346. According to the tribunal, the couple was supposed to receive a combined annual salary of £30,000 for managing the club and they worked an average of 75 hours per week between them.
Ilford Sports Club was ordered to pay Mr. Irwin £6,480.19 and Mrs. Irwin £8,865.91. Mr. Irwin, who gained recognition by winning the first series of Gladiators in 1992, has also participated in other shows and charity events, despite being diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2020.
The tribunal heard that the couple took over as sole managers of Ilford Sports Club in 2015, overseeing various aspects of its operation, including the bar and functions. They were responsible for daily maintenance, opening and closing the club, and ensuring its cleanliness. The club was used for different sporting activities, community events, and private functions.
The tribunal also revealed that Mr. and Mrs. Irwin had an agreement with the club’s board to receive a combined salary of £30,000 while running their own businesses and providing classes at the club’s premises. When the pandemic hit and the couple was furloughed, the club’s finances suffered due to the inability to generate income from booking and bar operations. By August 2020, the club’s account had a meager 30p, and the reserve account had a mere 43p.
The tribunal concluded that the Irwins were unfairly dismissed since there was no prior warning, consultation, or consideration of alternative options. The tribunal also upheld their claims of unlawful deduction from wages, unpaid accrued holiday pay, and failure to provide written initial employment particulars.
Mr. Irwin expressed his disappointment with how they were treated and described the situation as “despicable.” He vowed to continue fighting for justice. Mrs. Irwin highlighted the underpayment and lack of a contract, emphasizing that they were the only ones managing the club. She also mentioned the emotional toll of not being able to attend community funerals held at the club. While they were pleased with the tribunal’s ruling, they described it as bittersweet.
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