THE North-East football club employee who won a tribunal after being sacked for her affair with a married director has spoken about her victory.

Helen Coverdale, who could win £20,000 from Darlington FC for unfair dismissal, spoke to a national newspaper at the weekend about the relationship that ended her career as commercial manager at the club.

In the article, Ms Coverdale claimed club director Mike Metcalf had left his wife, Michelle, before their relationship began but declined to say if they were still together.

She said: "First and foremost I would like people to know I'm not some scarlet women who runs off with other people's husbands."

Ms Coverdale, 34, was sacked after a public confrontation with Mr Metcalf's wife at half-time in a stand at the club in 2000.

At the tribunal, club chairman George Reynolds said Ms Coverdale's behaviour had tarnished the club's family image, and he had to sack her from her £18,000-a-year post, but this was dismissed by the tribunal.

Speaking in yesterday's article, Ms Coverdale said: "I have proved one thing: that women can take on bullish men like him and win."