Richard Keogh is reportedly set to appeal against his sacking by Derby after he decided not to accept an offer of reduced wages in order to stay at the Championship club.
But the club captain is shocked at having his contract terminated for gross misconduct over the car crash which has potentially wrecked his career, according to The Athletic.
The defender sustained serious injuries at the end of a team-bonding night last month, suffering knee ligament damage that is likely to keep him on the sidelines for more than a year.
Keogh, 33, was in the back seat of Tom Lawrence’s car when it crashed into a lamp post after the night out on September 24. He was earning about £25,000 a week, with the offer thought to be significantly less than that.
In a statement on Wednesday night, Derby wrote: ‘Derby County Football Club has completed the disciplinary hearing regarding Richard Keogh in respect of his involvement in the events of Tuesday, September 24th.
‘As a result of that process, Mr Keogh has had his contract terminated with immediate effect for gross misconduct. He has the right of appeal within 14 days.
‘As we have said from the outset, the Club will not tolerate any of its players or staff behaving in a manner which puts themselves, their colleagues, and members of the general public at risk of injury or worse, or which brings the club into disrepute.’
Lawrence, the Wales forward, and team-mate Mason Bennett were fined, banned from driving for two years and ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid for their part in the car crash, which happened on the A6.
The pair appeared in court on October 15 after being charged with drink driving. Derby also fined Lawrence and Bennett six weeks’ wages each.
Keogh had been at Derby since July 2012, joining from Coventry in a deal worth about £1million.
He had made more than 300 appearances for the Rams and led them last season when they reached the Championship play-off final.
It is now probable that the Professional Footballers’ Association will become involved in the matter as Keogh considers his options, ahead of a long road back to fitness.