Former T&T Football Association (TTFA) technical director Kendall Walkes will learn the fate of his lawsuit, after he was fired from his post less than one year on the job, on September 27.
High Court Judge Joan Charles reserved her judgement in Walkes' breach of contract case at the end of a brief trial at the Hall of Justice in Port-of-Spain, yesterday morning.
Tuesday's hearing began with the youth coach from Pennsylvania testifying over how he got the job in 2015.
According to Walkes, he was coaching in the United States Virgin Islands when a colleague from the State Association for Youth Soccer in Pennsylvania recommended him for the job based on his experience and his Trinidadian heritage.
Walkes claimed that he had a telephone interview before being invited for another while he was in Trinidad to attend his sibling's funeral in February 2015.
He claimed that he was officially offered the position during the meeting with the association's former president Raymond Tim Kee, general secretary Sheldon Phillips and national team manager William Wallace.
While being cross-examined by TTFA's lawyer Anand Missir, Walkes claimed that he could not remember all that was discussed during the meeting as it occurred over three years ago.
"It was a discussion on the tenants of the contract and if it would be acceptable to me," Walkes said.
Charles was repeatedly forced to stop Missir during his questioning as she pointed out that the issues raised in his questions to Walkes were not mentioned in the association's defence to the lawsuit.
In its defence, the TTFA alleged that it broke the contract with Walkes after Fifa officials wrote to it and raised issues over his reported $93,000 a month compensation package in light of the association's well known financial constraints. It is also contending that the contract was not valid.
While she did not make a final pronouncement on the issue, Charles suggested that Walkes' contract may be held binding as the former TTFA officials were empowered to sign the contract when they did and despite the financial constraints, which she said would have been known to them at the time.
She also stated even if the written contract was questionable, there was still a valid contract between the parties as Walkes performed his duties and was compensated before the agreement was eventually terminated in March 2016.
"The only issue really is what circumstances would have to apply if the defendant wished to terminate the contract," Charles said as she gave the parties deadlines for filing submissions in the case.
In the event that Walkes is eventually successful in his claim, the already cash-strapped association would be ordered to pay him for the remaining two years on his contract.
Tim Kee, Phillips and embattled TTFA president David John-Williams were all present for the hearing but sat at opposing sides of the courtroom.
Walkes is being represented by Keston Mc Quilkin.