FORMER Colchester United stalwart Paul Dyer is taking the club to an industrial tribunal alleging wrongful dismissal.

Mr Dyer was with the club for a total of 23 years, five as a player and 18 as its chief scout.

The hearing is due to take place in Bury St Edmunds on Monday.

It is understood the issue relates to the 57-year-old being made redundant from his post in January last year.

Mr Dyer, who still lives in Colchester, played for the club from 1975 to 1980 as a midfielder and defender.

After leaving the U’s he went on to play for Gravesend, Chelmsford and Tiptree, before going into local football management in Suffolk.

He guided Haverhill to the quarter finals of the FA Vase in 1987 and also managed Brantham Athletic.

Mr Dyer returned to Colchester in the 1991-92 season as chief scout after being recruited by former Ipswich Town favourite Ian Atkins, who was manager at the time.

Mr Dyer was responsible for the club’s scouting operation until last year.

He served under around nine managers during his time with the U’s including Paul Lambert, who was in charge when he was made redundant.

Asked about next week’s scheduled hearing, Mr Dyer said: “I do not wish to make any comment ahead of the industrial tribunal.”

It is understood that among the arguments will be claims for breach of contract and unfair dismissal.

After leaving Colchester Mr Dyer did some scouting work for Doncaster and Leyton Orient.

He is currently a scout for Queens Park Rangers.

Although contacted about the tribunal, no one at Colchester United was available comment.