Post by JustMomma on Aug 19, 2008 10:12:01 GMT -5
Diggs threatens suit in contract dispute
By Billy Byler | Staff Writer
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Former Augusta Colts head coach Bubba Diggs is threatening to sue the indoor football team and majority owner John Sisson for failure to pay what Diggs said is the remaining $15,000 of his contract.
"I'm going to go forward with legal action," Diggs said. "I've called him and (Colts minority owner) Tony (Zefiretto), and they won't call me back."
Diggs said he will hold a news conference on Thursday at 2 p.m. at Body Works in North Augusta to explain his intentions.
"I'm just trying to bring some closure to this now," he said. "It's been wearing on me. My name's not on the Web site. It says they're taking applications to fill the coaching positions, and I haven't heard anything. It's very frustrating."
Sisson didn't return a call seeking comment. Andrew Wright, the team's vice president of operations, said Sisson is taking some time off.
"The comment from the Colts is that we told Bubba we were not going to make a decision (on a head coach) 'til September," Wright said. "Bubba got paid for what John told him he would get paid -- 'til the end of July. Really, there is no contract. Bubba got his money."
Diggs' relationship with the Colts took a hit in July, when a dispute arose over the length of his contract. Diggs said the contract ran through the end of 2008. Sisson contended that the contract expired at the end of the season and he had no plans to sign Diggs to a new contract until September -- at the earliest.
Diggs said he didn't realize he wasn't the coach until he was contacted by The Augusta Chronicle on July 11.
"I'm tired of the drama," Diggs said. "I don't even want to be a part of anything next year. I want Augusta to have an indoor football team with or without me, but I'm not going to be treated this way.
"I took off $5,000. I told him he could only pay me $10,000, and we'll call it even. I was going to just walk away and keep my mouth shut, but no."
Diggs said the only recent contact he's had with his former boss is when Sisson sent him an e-mail asking Diggs to return his office keys and team-issued cell phone.
Reach Billy Byler at (706) 823-3216 or billy.byler@augustachronicle.com.
DIGGS' COACHING HISTORY
- Bubba Diggs showed up on the Augusta indoor football scene as a coach for the Stallions in 2000. He stayed with the team through its three years of existence.
- In 2006, Diggs returned to Augusta as the head coach for the Spartans. He coached the team in both years of its existence, leading it to a World Indoor Football League championship in 2007.
- Diggs remained coach after the Spartans were sold to John Sisson and joined the American Indoor Football Association as the Colts. He led the team to a 7-7 record.
- In July, Sisson said Diggs' contract expired. Diggs said the contract was supposed to last through the end of the calendar year.
From the Tuesday, August 19, 2008 edition of the Augusta Chronicle
chronicle.augusta.com/stories/081908/spa_469956.shtml
By Billy Byler | Staff Writer
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Former Augusta Colts head coach Bubba Diggs is threatening to sue the indoor football team and majority owner John Sisson for failure to pay what Diggs said is the remaining $15,000 of his contract.
"I'm going to go forward with legal action," Diggs said. "I've called him and (Colts minority owner) Tony (Zefiretto), and they won't call me back."
Diggs said he will hold a news conference on Thursday at 2 p.m. at Body Works in North Augusta to explain his intentions.
"I'm just trying to bring some closure to this now," he said. "It's been wearing on me. My name's not on the Web site. It says they're taking applications to fill the coaching positions, and I haven't heard anything. It's very frustrating."
Sisson didn't return a call seeking comment. Andrew Wright, the team's vice president of operations, said Sisson is taking some time off.
"The comment from the Colts is that we told Bubba we were not going to make a decision (on a head coach) 'til September," Wright said. "Bubba got paid for what John told him he would get paid -- 'til the end of July. Really, there is no contract. Bubba got his money."
Diggs' relationship with the Colts took a hit in July, when a dispute arose over the length of his contract. Diggs said the contract ran through the end of 2008. Sisson contended that the contract expired at the end of the season and he had no plans to sign Diggs to a new contract until September -- at the earliest.
Diggs said he didn't realize he wasn't the coach until he was contacted by The Augusta Chronicle on July 11.
"I'm tired of the drama," Diggs said. "I don't even want to be a part of anything next year. I want Augusta to have an indoor football team with or without me, but I'm not going to be treated this way.
"I took off $5,000. I told him he could only pay me $10,000, and we'll call it even. I was going to just walk away and keep my mouth shut, but no."
Diggs said the only recent contact he's had with his former boss is when Sisson sent him an e-mail asking Diggs to return his office keys and team-issued cell phone.
Reach Billy Byler at (706) 823-3216 or billy.byler@augustachronicle.com.
DIGGS' COACHING HISTORY
- Bubba Diggs showed up on the Augusta indoor football scene as a coach for the Stallions in 2000. He stayed with the team through its three years of existence.
- In 2006, Diggs returned to Augusta as the head coach for the Spartans. He coached the team in both years of its existence, leading it to a World Indoor Football League championship in 2007.
- Diggs remained coach after the Spartans were sold to John Sisson and joined the American Indoor Football Association as the Colts. He led the team to a 7-7 record.
- In July, Sisson said Diggs' contract expired. Diggs said the contract was supposed to last through the end of the calendar year.
From the Tuesday, August 19, 2008 edition of the Augusta Chronicle
chronicle.augusta.com/stories/081908/spa_469956.shtml
