The former manager of crisis-hit Crawley Town football club has won more than £5,000 in compensation following his sacking.

Francis Vines took legal action against Crawley Town and its controversial owner Azwar Majeed, claiming the club failed to honour a severance clause in his contract.

Mr Vines, the most successful manager in the history of Crawley Town, was given full backing by the SA Group when they bought the Nationwide Conference club from John Duly last summer.

But he was fired by then chairman Chas Majeed, Azwar's brother, in October following the team's poor start to the season.

Chas Majeed has since been forced to stand down after The Argus revealed he is a bankrupt and therefore barred under FA rules from holding a position of power at a football club.

Mr Vines' claim was upheld by default at an employment tribunal in Croydon yesterday because the SA Group failed to attend the hearing.

He said: "I'm pleased it went my way but it was only money that was owed to me.

"They had refused to pay my severance pay, which was in excess of £5,000. If the owners of the club had any integrity they would have paid me and this would have been unnecessary.

"But I won't be able to relax until it is done and dusted and the money is safely in my back account."

Mr Vines has now been appointed manager of Conference South club Basingstoke Town. He will be taking charge of the team for the first time on Saturday when the Hampshire club visit Yeading.

He said: "It's nice to be back in the swing of things after an unpleasant split with Crawley and I can't wait for the first game."

Azwar Majeed, 30, is also being sued by three other former Crawley Town employees.

Mr Vines' assistant Dave Swindlehurst, former managing director Steve Duly and office worker Ian Holman claim they were not paid money owed to them.

Last month the Majeeds announced they were slashing the wage bill at the club by 50 per cent and selling all the players because an unnamed investor had withdrawn funding due to the team's poor league form.

Last week they backed down and said they would pay the outstanding wages following intervention by the Players' Football Association (PFA).

The players received the remaining half of February's money and are set to be paid in full for March this week. But the PFA says the payment of bonuses and appearance fees have not been resolved.

Spokesman Simon Barker said: "Bonus schemes are an integral part of the contract so if they are not being paid then the club is in breach of contract.

"Unless there is an agreement with the players to the contrary, those monies are owed so we are still involved."

A spokesman for the Majeeds said they had declined to comment.