Hammers vow to resist further action

Published: 17 Mar 2009 - 17:55:49

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The club reached an undisclosed out-of-court settlement with Sheffield United this week after an arbitration panel had ruled the Argentina international should not have been permitted to play in the final matches of the 2006/07 Premier League season. But that does not seem to be an end of the matter as former Blades' boss Neil Warnock has revealed he is considering launching a personal compensation claim, adding he believes the Sheffield United players have a case too. Leeds chairman Ken Bates is also threatening legal action over money the club missed out due to United's relegation. But the Hammers say they have not received any formal legal claims - and will 'strongly resist any attempts to prolong this matter through the courts'. In a statement on the club's official website, West Ham said: "Despite the extensive media coverage, West Ham United have received no formal legal claims from Sheffield United players or their previous manager relating to the so-called Tevez affair. "The club have settled the matter of compensation, as ruled upon by Lord Griffiths, with Sheffield United and can see no basis for claims being brought outside of the arbitration process, established by the Football Association, which has now been brought to a close. "However, it is now becoming clear that the ruling by Lord Griffiths has encouraged a potentially endless legal chain of claims and counter claims, which can only be damaging to English football. As a club we will strongly resist any attempts to prolong this matter through the courts both to protect our interests and those of the wider game. "There is a lot more at stake than the finances of West Ham United and we will do all we can to stop this matter ending in a form of legal anarchy."