 In September 2000, Sterling took Leeds to an employment tribunal, claiming that he had been discriminated against by head coach Dean Lance earlier in the year.In December 2000, Leeds were ordered to pay Sterling £16,000 as compensation and to offer him a new one-year contract.Leeds intended to appeal against this ruling, but in April 2001, Sterling announced his retirement, stating that he had lost the desire to play the sport due to the incident.