Physical education instructor Mr. Steven Burgess has blasted his sacking from Montessori Academy as "ludicrous.'' Mr. Burgess claims that he has been fired because a substitute PE teacher, supplied by him, had been inadequate.

But school head teacher, Mr. Gibert Giuliani has defended the decision stating that Mr. Burgess broke the terms of his contract.

Mr. Burgess had been working at the school for the past three and a half years on a sub-contracted basis from his own fitness company.

Earlier this year he became involved in the Bermuda International Race Weekend and appeared on TV reporting the events.

"I am involved in a number of community activities. I tend to work 14 or 15 hours a day, because I enjoy my work,'' he said yesterday.

"I have been taking students down to the school with me. They are not qualified.'' A letter was handed to him last week from the school principal. It read: "I wish to advise you that, effective immediately, we are terminating your employment with Montessori Academy as the Physical Education instructor.

"It is increasingly difficult to maintain a structured programme for children when the continuity of the programme is being affected by frequent substitution of yourself.

"There is also the problem with our insurance when a person totally unknown to us as to qualifications or even their name is given charge of our children.'' Mr. Burgess admitted that he had been through a busy week and that without the substitute, provided by him, the school would not have had a sports teacher.

He said: "To get rid of someone on the basis of someone else's production and usage is ludicrous. I think they wanted to get rid of me because someone else was interested in the job.

"I was given no warning of this letter. They could at least have shown the courtesy of telephoning me or talking to me face-to-face.'' Mr. Giuliani stood by his decision to fire Mr. Burgess. "Our contract was with him as an individual. He had the qualifications to do the job.

"He cannot just send a substitute to cover classes when he likes, especially a substitute who is still learning the job.

"So far this year, from the beginning of January, he has only been here for one day. He had missed several times before that.

"His latest substitute brought two girls along with him and spent most of the time flirting with them instead of working with the students.'' Mr. Giuliani said that the contract was between Mr. Burgess and Montessori Academy. "If you sign a contract with a company it does not mean you can send anyone along to do your job.'' He admitted that there had been little warning but compared the situation to a Police officer stopping a drunken driver and then letting him drive home. "It would only happen again,'' he said.

Mr. Burgess said he had put the matter behind him and would be taking four young men over to Massachusetts this week in an attempt to get them sports scholarships.

Mr. Steven Burgess.