Blackburn must pay ex-boss Henning Berg £2.25m

Blackburn's attempt to avoid paying former boss Henning Berg £2.25million in compensation was today thrown out by the High Court.

Judge Mark Pelling QC said the club’s case for not honouring Berg — who they sacked after just 57 days — his full contract of two and a half years was not “realistically arguable”.

Rovers argued that managing director Derek Shaw acted without the authority of owners Venky’s to sanction the compensation terms agreed with Berg, 43, as part of his contract at Ewood Park.

But after a two-day hearing in Manchester, Judge Pelling QC dismissed this and ordered Venky’s, who have already paid Berg £560,000, to release the further money owing to him after bringing his tenure to an end.

The club appealed the decision but it was rejected and Rovers must now decide whether to take it to the Court of Appeal.