A former Carlisle United star has been awarded a seven-figure sum after winning a compensation claim over his 2019 sacking.

The Guardian report that Richard Keogh is due about £2.3m from Championship club Derby County after the long-running situation.

Keogh was dismissed by the Rams for gross misconduct nearly two years ago when he was injured in a car crashed by fellow ex-Carlisle player Tom Lawrence after a night out.

The 34-year-old, now with Huddersfield Town, launched an action against the Pride Park club for breach of contract.

The League Appeals' Committee [LAC] has upheld the decision of the EFL's Player Related Dispute Commission [PRDC], which awarded Keogh a payout.

An EFL statement said: “The LAC has heard and dismissed an appeal under the regulations of the EFL by Derby against the decision of the PRDC in the case of Richard Keogh.

"The PDRC held that Mr Keogh had not committed gross misconduct, that he had not brought the club into serious disrepute and that he had been wrongly dismissed by the club.”

Keogh suffered a serious knee injury in the crash, which kept him out of action for about a year.

Both Lawrence and Mason Bennett, who was driving another car, were both banned from driving and sentenced to community service after admitting drink-driving and failing to stop at he scene of an accident.

Derby, though, did not sack the pair, but dismissed Keogh after he allegedly refused to accept a large pay cut. His contract at the time was due to run until this summer.

The defender was at Carlisle for two spells between 2007-10, making 95 appearances and becoming a crowd favourite.

He later played for Coventry before spending seven-and-a-half seasons with Derby.

After recovering from his injury, the Republic of Ireland international returned to football with MK Dons early in the 2020/12 season before a switch to Huddersfield in January.

Derby have not yet commented on the ruling.