Oviedo to sue Collymore

Oviedo were left short of strikers when Collymore quit

Stan Collymore faces financial ruin if he is successfully sued by Real Oviedo, the club he walked out on after 34 days.

The Spaniards are to begin court action on 24 January against the former Liverpool striker for breach of contract.

And if the judge rules in the club's favour, Collymore could be hit with damages of up to £7m.

We are suing him for £7m for breach of contract

Real Oviedo spokesman Miguel Solic

The 30-year-old decided to quit football in March despite having signed a four-year deal with Real Oviedo.

Club spokesman Miguel Solis said: "Mr Collymore signed a contract with us at the start of the year to play until 31 December, 2004.

"We are suing him for £7m for breach of contract because he left the club after just one month."

Real Oviedo claim that is the amount they could have received had they sold the player to another club in Spain.

Solis added: "No-one wants to go to court and I hope he can make an arrangement with Oviedo.

"When we knew we were signing Mr Collymore, we let another striker go on loan to Fulham.

"When he went, he left us without any strikers."

The Spanish side, relegated last season after 13 years in the first division, still hold Collymore's player registration.

He is therefore barred from playing with any other team until 2004 without Oviedo's agreement.