Source: Telegraph
West Ham face anxious wait over European qualification
The club are seventh in the league, the last qualifying berth for the Europa League, but their application for the Uefa club licence required to enter the competition is yet to be granted. [LNB]West Ham's application was rejected after the club failed to provide the Football Association and Premier League with audited accounts for the last year. [LNB] Related ArticlesFA look at Stoke troubleWest Ham on cusp of EuropeWest Ham face Europe banWest Ham seek stabilityCarlton Cole out for six weeks for West HamAragones fine overturnedOn Friday night the FA confirmed that the licence had not yet been awarded and set a final hearing date of May 26, when the case will be examined by an independent dispute resolution body. [LNB]Should West Ham finish seventh but their application is rejected, then the team finishing eight will qualify for the Europa League, which will replace the Uefa Cup. [LNB]The FA and the Premier League issued statements on Friday night to ensure that the other clubs competing for a European place - Manchester City, Fulham and Tottenham - challenged for eighth place until the end of the season. [LNB]West Ham remain confident that they will be granted the licence but, with a change of ownership imminent, would prefer to sign off the accounts once prospective new owner, Straumur, has completed its takeover. [LNB]Straumur is a major creditor of Hansa, the holding company owned by chairman Bjorgulfur Gudmundsson that fell into administration when the economy collapsed. [LNB]The FA's deadline means the club face a race to complete the purchase. Straumur has indicated that it will not move until the season is over, but with the last game taking place on May 24 it will have just 24 hours to complete the paperwork. [LNB]In a statement issued on Friday night, West Ham said: "Due to a number of factors, principally relating to a possible change of ownership of West Ham United, the club has not been able to submit certain financial information, but expects to be in a position to do so by Tuesday May 26."[LNB]The Premier League said: "The Premier League respects the fact that there are set procedures in the matter of West Ham United's Uefa Licence application and that a final outcome will not be known until after the season has finished. [LNB]"There is now a clear and definitive timetable and every club still competing for a European position continues to have everything to play for."[LNB]
