Coach Heal sues Sydney Flames amidst bullying claims

Heal, who has been notably absent from the WNBL since January, filed Federal Court proceedings last week seeking penalties and orders preventing his termination from the Flames.

After multiple players approached the club with bullying complaints against Heal in early January, the Flames opted to carry out an independent investigation and suspended the then-head coach while this took place.

The Flames have received the results of this investigation and have issued a show cause notice to Heal, a former international player, before possibly firing him from the team.

In his lawsuit, Heal alleges that the club contravened employment law by suspending him, requiring that he remain absent from the workplace, and making findings of misconduct against him on February 3.

Sydney Flames owner Paul Smith and president Victoria Denholm are also alleged to have been involved in these breaches.

In a statement on Tuesday, the club criticised Heal's lawsuit.

"The Sydney Flames maintain the current legal proceedings instigated by Mr Heal are simply an effort to delay or block the Sydney Flames from bringing its current process to a conclusion," the club said.

"What sits at the heart of this matter is player safety and welfare. That is our sole concern at this time, and we will always maintain focus on that.

"The Sydney Flames see no merit in Mr Heal's current legal manoeuvrings and will defend Mr Heal's court proceedings vigorously and to its full extent."

In response, Heal called the club's statement "inaccurate and incomplete," saying he had worked as head coach since March 2021 without any concerns.

After raising questions about his own ability to coach the team in late 2022, Heal says he brought up further concerns about how he was treated by a senior member of the club's management.

Soon after, he was suspended and only provided with "broadly stated and general allegations" as to why, he said.

"While I cannot, at this stage, go into the nature of the allegations and the investigation which was undertaken, I wish to make clear that I have raised concerns about the nature of the allegations; the motivation of raising them as at 20 January 2023; and fundamental deficiencies in the investigation process which was undertaken," he said.

"I deny that I have at any stage acted in a manner to risk the health and safety of any person or player. To the contrary, I have sought to safeguard the wellbeing and interests of players, and support them."

Heal also denied claims he had brought the lawsuit for an improper purpose.

This is the second Federal Court case to have been launched against the Sydney Flames with former head coach and CEO Karen Dalton accusing the "boys club" of discrimination and gender disparity.

Heal's daughter, Shyla Heal, was also released from the Flames on February 1 for "personal reasons" after being absent for three games.

"The club has cleared the way for Shyla to seek other playing opportunities," the Flames said at the time.

She will spend the remainder of the season playing for Townsville Fire.

Her father's case will next come before the Federal Court on February 15.

Australian Associated Press