West Ham United were dealt a blow last night when it emerged that the Carlos Tevez affair is far from over despite their settlement with Sheffield United.
Former Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock is considering suing West Ham after the legal dispute between the clubs, while past and present Blades players confirmed they were continuing with their legal action.
West Ham hoped they had drawn a line under the affair after agreeing an out-of-court settlement that could be worth £20m to Sheffield United and they will be dismayed to learn the saga will drag on.
Warnock, currently in charge of Crystal Palace, told BBC Radio 5 Live: “I’ll be seeking legal advice.
“It’s just been a matter of finalising all those details first before you think about your personal losses.
“I have been with (Sheffield United chairman) Kevin McCabe and the club in this appeal and taking it as far as it has.
“I felt that we worked so hard that year and the club was going to go forward, and you do feel bitter without a shadow of a doubt.”
Players from the Sheffield United team that were relegated also intend to pursue their compensation claim.
“We understand, but have not been informed officially, that the club’s dispute with West Ham has been settled,” Chris Farnell, the lawyer representing the players, told The Times.
“However, the players’ claim will continue independently. We have made correspondence with West Ham’s lawyers as recently as the end of last week.”
West Ham told The Times that they have not received a claim from the players.
In April 2007, West Ham were fined £5.5m by the Premier League for breaking rules over third-party agreements when taking striker Tevez and fellow Argentine Javier Mascherano to Upton Park. But they were not docked points and, ultimately, went on to avoid relegation by wining their final game of the season courtesy of a goal from Tevez.
The chronology of the Carlos Tevez saga.
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