Jake Doyle-Hayes Takes Legal Action Against Former Club Hibernian Over Training Ground Injury

Irish footballer Jake Doyle-Hayes has launched a legal case against his former club Hibernian FC, alleging that a training ground incident involving then-manager Lee Johnson severely impacted his professional career.

The 26-year-old, who currently plays for Sligo Rovers in the League of Ireland, filed a compensation claim at the Court of Session in Edinburgh on Wednesday. The case centres around an ankle injury sustained in 2022, which his legal team argues resulted from a tackle by Johnson during a training session.

The injury required surgery and, according to Doyle-Hayes’ representatives at Thompsons Solicitors, significantly curtailed his playing time and derailed his progress as a professional athlete.

“Jake's career has been derailed by mismanagement and ineptitude. A career has been lost to this athlete,” said his legal team, who claim the former Republic of Ireland U21 international’s footballing future has been severely compromised.

Before the injury, Doyle-Hayes had shown promise during stints with Aston Villa, St Mirren, and Hibs. However, during his four-year tenure at the Edinburgh club, he made only 69 appearances—just six of those over his final two seasons—something Hibs previously attributed to injury setbacks.

Thompsons Solicitors describe the incident as having caused "horrific injuries" and maintain that without it, the midfielder would have continued playing at a higher level. The law firm has not disclosed the exact amount being sought in damages but indicated the potential financial losses are significant.

Doyle-Hayes left Hibs by mutual agreement in January 2025, shortly before signing with Sligo Rovers. His departure followed a period of limited appearances due to his recovery.

Lee Johnson, who managed Hibernian from 2022 until his dismissal in August 2023, has since taken up a role as interim manager with Belgian side Lommel SK. The club, when approached for comment, stated:
“The club is aware of the claim, however as an ongoing matter shall not be commenting further at this stage.”

As legal proceedings continue, the case shines a spotlight on player safety during training and the potential consequences of managerial actions on athletes' careers.

_{Featured Image Credit: Instagram / @hibernianfootballclub}