San Diego

Two surprise witnesses appeared in Superior Court Wednesday to testify in the suit by former Chargers owner Gene Klein against Los Angeles Raiders owner Al Davis.

Former Chargers Coach Don Coryell and former San Diego City Manager Ray Blair testified in Klein’s behalf in the suit, which accuses Davis of malicious prosecution for naming him as a defendant in the antitrust action brought by Davis against the National Football League in 1981.

The suit blames Davis for a heart attack Klein suffered while on the witness stand in the NFL antitrust action.

Coryell said that there was never any mention of relocating the Chargers to Los Angeles.

“Klein’s goals were to win games. There was nothing more important,” Coryell said.

When asked about Klein’s “capacity for truthfulness,” Coryell answered that “he was always very straightforward with me.”

Blair was asked if there was ever any mention or indication that the Chargers might be moved to Los Angeles.

“No,” Blair said, adding that in 1980, negotiations were begun on extending the team’s lease on San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium, expanding the stadium’s seating capacity and installing sky boxes.

Blair said that the improvements were discussed in order to attract the Super Bowl to San Diego and to extend the lease past 1988 to make the Chargers a major tenant.

“The City of San Diego has an excellent relationship with the Chargers and other major tenants,” Blair said.

The trial has been in court for eight weeks.