A Shrewsbury bike shop owner is set to take British Cycling to an employment tribunal – having lost his post working with the country’s top Paralympic stars.
Dave Mellor, who runs Dave Mellor Cycles in Frankwell, was programme manager for British Cycling’s Paralympic team, and helped them to a substantial medal haul at last year’s world championships.
But his contract was terminated last autumn, and a tribunal will be held in Manchester on October 1 to determine any compensation.
Mr Mellor will fly to Beijing tomorrow, Friday, for the Paralympic Games, but will be there only as a spectator.
In his role as programme manager, Mr Mellor was responsible for cyclists with disabilities and reported directly to British Cycling performance director and former Olympic gold medallist Chris Boardman, and was also heavily involved with the team during the Athens Olympics in 2004. For the past year he has focussed on running his shop in New Street, Frankwell.
Mr Mellor said: “It was a job I really enjoyed, but I don’t feel they have followed due process.”
A spokesman for British Cycling declined to comment.