Source: Daily_Mail
West Ham and Sheffield United keen to draw a line under Tevez affair as row rumbles on
Nearly two years of legal wrangling were brought to an end when West Ham
and Sheffield United finally brokered a settlement over the Carlos Tevez affair.
Still angry: Neil Warnock is still hurt by Sheffield United's relegation in 2007
The size of the payment made by West Ham to the South Yorkshire club has not been made public but Sportsmail understands it is in the region of £25million, payable over four years.
That falls short of the £45million the Blades initially demanded, afigure they claimed represented the true cost of relegation to theCoca-Cola Championship in 2007 - something they believe would have beenWest Ham's fate if not for the goals scored by Tevez.
Sheffield United, meanwhile, continued to pursue a private damages claim.
West Ham were originally willing to pay around £5m but their case was damaged when Lord Griffiths, whose independent tribunal has now been disbanded following yesterday's agreement, favoured the Blades in hisinitial findings.
'Both clubs are pleased to announce that a satisfactory settlement for compensation has been reached which brings the dispute between Sheffield United and West Ham United to an end,' West Ham chief executive Scott Duxbury said in a joint statement with United chairman Kevin McCabe.
'For everyone concerned, the time was right to draw a line under this whole episode. We have had very positive discussions over a number of days with Sheffield United and acknowledge their willingness to resolve this in the best interests of both clubs.
'This now allows us to concentrate on our immediate ambitions, which include a strong finish to the Premier League season and possible European qualification, without any negative impact on our long-term project. We wish Sheffield United well in their bid to secure promotion from the Championship.'
McCabe added: 'We are happy and satisfied with the settlement with West Ham. Throughout the finalisation of the terms for the agreement, the discussions were friendly, co-operative and in the best of spirit with both the Blades' and Hammers' advisory teams.
Feeling down: Danny Webber (foreground) and his Sheffield United team-mates take in their fate after defeat to Wigan almost two years ago
'We are two clubs with a fantastic footballing history who now want to move on and focus on the business of playing football - hopefully, for us, against the Hammers in the Premier League next season. We look forward to a positive, ongoing relationship with West Ham at all levels.'
News of the agreement will come as a boost to Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola, who has expressed his desire to focus on on-field tasks - something that has not been easy in a season disrupted not just by the Tevez saga but also the financial uncertainty over the club's Icelandic owners.
Speaking before the deal was finalised, Zola said: 'Once the agreement is reached it will be good because we can sit down and plan for the future, knowing exactly where we are and what we are dealing with.
'That will give us a clear picture for the future and we can sit down and plan.'
However, a joint investigation by the Premier League and FA into the Tevez and Mascherano signings is continuing and former Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock is considering taking legal action against West Ham.
