Brian Launders' legal action against Colchester United could cost the club more than £250,000, it has emerged.

The 23-year old midfielder and his agent Barry Silkman both have separate actions pending against the U's.

Launders, who was sacked by the U's in October, will hear the result of his claim for unfair dismissal at a Football League tribunal at their offices in London on Friday.

The Eire Under-21 international, who made just eight appearances for the club, has been battling to have the remainder of his two-year contract paid up ever since his controversial sacking.

That sum is believed to be around £100,000 and, together with legal costs, could rise to more than £160,000 if the U's lose their case.

Silkman also has an action for a similar sum pending and today claimed to have "spent a fortune" mounting his case.

The former Crystal Palace and Manchester City midfielder, who brought a number of signings to Layer Road under former boss Mick Wadsworth, believes he is owed money for "introducing" players to the club.

Silkman and Launders - who was expected to play for West Brom reserves yesterday afternoon as part of a week long trial - have employed barrister William McCormick to represent them.

The U's, who have already spent a considerable sum of money preparing their case, will have club secretary Marie Partner and director Peter Powell giving evidence in their defence of Launders' sacking.

The club remain confident they will win the hearing but defeat could prove costly for the U's.

Silkman said: "With each day that passes we grow more and more confident we're going to win the case.

"I'm as confident as Mike Tyson is of beating Julius Francis on Saturday night. We've spent an absolute fortune preparing this and it's not something we are about to lose. "It's certainly a problem for them, but it's not our problem. We're going to London to win this case and then I will be fighting the club in my own action in the next few weeks."

But the U's believe the panel - which includes former Newcastle chairman Gordon McKeag, ex-Nottingham Forest boss Frank Clark and Pat Smith - will come down in their favour.

A source at Layer Road said yesterday: "We've taken legal action and we're confident of a successful outcome at the hearing.

"The club have acted in the utmost good faith at all times and have acted appropriately in all cases but, ultimately, it will be a decision of the tribunal."

An Aaron Skelton free-kick settled the U's Avon Combination match with Northampton Town at Layer Road on Tuesday. He scored the only goal of the game on his comeback after injury.

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