Source: Team_Talk
Fulham still want Richards out
Fulham will launch an appeal to the Supreme Court after failing in a renewed bid to oust Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards.[LNB] The dispute centres around the role which Fulham claim Richards played in England striker Peter Crouch's £9million move from Portsmouth to Tottenham two years ago.[LNB]Fulham refused to accept a High Court judgment that the dispute with Richards should be settled by arbitration, but three Court of Appeal judges on Thursday dismissed the Premier League club's appeal after a hearing in London.[LNB]However, Fulham will now launch an appeal to the Supreme Court in an attempt to have the case heard in open court.[LNB]"Fulham will be seeking permission from the Supreme Court to appeal this decision since it considers that a point of law of general importance is involved and that it has a good prospect of success," the club said in a statement.[LNB]"The decision by the Court of Appeal affects not only the world of football but potentially every company in the land which has a shareholders' agreement or set of articles of association with an arbitration clause."[LNB]Fulham had complained that Richards helped "facilitate" Crouch's transfer to Tottenham, but the Premier League chairman denies any impropriety.[LNB]Fulham, who had also bid £9million for Crouch, claimed Richards had acted as an "unauthorised agent" in breach of the game's regulations.[LNB]Last year they asked Mr Justice Vos to restrain Richards from participating in transfer negotiations or to order that he should "cease to be chairman" of the Premier League.[LNB]The judge refused, following a High Court hearing, and said the dispute should go to arbitration.[LNB]Fulham tried to persuade the Court of Appeal to overturn the ruling.[LNB]But Lord Justice Rix, Lord Justice Longmore and Lord Justice Patten today upheld Mr Justice Vos' decision and unanimously dismissed the appeal.[LNB]Judges heard that the Premier League had concluded that Sir David's role in the Crouch transfer was "legitimate".[LNB]A Premier League inquiry had found that he "played a part in 'mediating"' between Portsmouth and Tottenham but did not "broker the transfer".[LNB]
