£45.5m please...

[Linz]

... make the cheque payable to Linz c/o The South Stand

Blades slap in £45.5m Tevez bill

SHEFFIELD UNITED have submitted the official bill for the cost of their relegation from the Premier League — a staggering £45.5million.

The Blades are still locked in a bitter battle over their demotion two seasons ago because of the Carlos Tevez affair.

They will face West Ham at an arbitration hearing beginning on March 16 to decide how much compensation they should receive.

The Yorkshire club, who were originally claiming £30m, have produced a detailed breakdown of figures showing what they claim to have lost, taking into account loss of TV revenue, falling gate receipts, depreciation in player values and a decline in sponsorship.

Argentine striker Tevez, now a Manchester United player, scored the winner at Old Trafford on the final day of the season to keep the Hammers up and send the Blades down.

But a tribunal, chaired by Lord Griffiths, ruled Tevez would not have been allowed to play if West Ham had been honest about the status of his third-party registration.

The Hammers have been fined £5.5m for breaching League rules over third-party agreements. It is now up to Lord Griffiths to decide the final payout to the Blades and he will take into account evidence from expert witnesses.

The signs are not good for West Ham as Lord Griffiths has been critical of their behaviour, particularly that of chief executive Scott Duxbury.

He insisted: “We have no doubt Tevez’s services were worth at least three points to West Ham over the season and were what made the difference between them staying in the Premier League and being relegated.”

Hammers have failed in attempts to get the case referred to the High Court and the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne. On each occasion they were told to abide by the tribunal decision.

A new probe has been launched by the FA and Premier League as a direct result of Lord Griffiths’ findings.

I know it's from the ever reliable Sun... but what do we think about that one?

I just wish it would get sorted one way or another so everyone can move on... it's getting very boring and is doing no one any favours. By that I don't mean we should drop everything, just that WHU should cough up

 

[shorehamview]

West Ham fans, for some strange reason, don't seem to like us much. And I can fully understand why. It's because they are all mardy twats. We didn't cheat and then lie, we played by the rules. So can we have our money please, and be bloody quick about it too. None of that "the cheque is in the post" malarky thanks. Hand over the cash.

 

[Linz]

West Ham fans, for some strange reason, don't seem to like us much. And I can fully understand why. It's because they are all mardy twats. We didn't cheat and then lie, we played by the rules. So can we have our money please, and be bloody quick about it too. None of that "the cheque is in the post" malarky thanks. Hand over the cash.

Careful SV... with diplomacy like that, the UN will be along to snap you up before you know it

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

Cash?? That's alot of used fivers and tenners though, SV!

As opposed to alot of used fifers and tenors which is very, very messy. It leaves the floor squelchy and covered in porridge and the ears ringing with an overkill of Nessun Dorma!

 

[dj_uk_1234]

What a load of rubbish.

45million. HAHAHA

Shouldn't get a thing.

 

[mattbianco1]

I honestly don't think we'll get anywhere near that. Maybe £15m?

I think Blackwell has cost us more than that this season by selling Beattie, Hulse, Stead & Armstrong. :thumbdown: We'd be top now if we'd kept our half decent players.

If i'd known how bad Brian Howard was gonna turn out i would never have applauded the sale of Tonge.

Hard lines last night though boys!!

 

[beightonblade]

yer reight WE won't get a penny !.......................................
but Mr McCabe will every single penny,love him or loathe him he's reight on this one.

 

[Linz]

There are sources today saying that West Ham want to reach an out of court agreement...

Like this one: LINKY

In an attempt to resolve a seemingly endless battle, it has been suggested that English West Ham is due to meet with Sheffield United to discuss the Carlos Tevez matter. The discussions, which are expected to take place within the next week or so, will explore the claims put forth by Sheffield United. As a result, West Ham hopes to secure an out-of-court settlement, as reported by The Telegraph.

I think this is the Telegraph article they mean: LINKY

West Ham United expect to hold discussions with Sheffield United over the next 10 days in an attempt to reach an out-of-court settlement over the Carlos Tevez affair.

That was from last Thursday, so will we be hearing something soon?

 

[beightonblade]

Before the 16th............I think McCabe will settle,the deal is probably already agreed?

 

[The One]

It depends how close to the sum we want they offer I reckon.

 

[dingledog]

Before the 16th............I think McCabe will settle,the deal is probably already agreed?

How astute BB, as usual of couirse I agree with you.

 

[SotonBlade]

we'll get no more than £10m and a bag of match balls.

 

[Pastyblade]

From the Telegraph:

West Ham have been granted access to the Yorkshire club's accounts and, following a line-by-line review, will argue that Sheffield United's claim largely relates to lost revenues.

...and the West Ham punch line is?

Consequential losses that were entirely foreseable.

I'd guess a settlement somewhere in between the original claim amount and the new amount.

If United accept anything less, they need their heads examining given the strong position they're in viz a viz the court hearing. Where a judge has been constantly so critical of the situation its going to be very difficult for WH to persuade him to find in their favour. When it comes down to finances, he'll have looked at the books but where there's any doubt my guess is given where he's decided the blame lies, he's likely to fall in favour of United of not WH.

I can't see them walking away from a court case with anything less than a major hit and huge amount of additional legal costs bearing in mind it could drag on for some time and WH will probably be liable for both sides costs if it comes out against them. I would imagine both clubs will have some pretty heavyweight barristers at any hearing and those and the solicitors fees and the cost of the witnesses / members of the club's wages through attending is going to add up to a pretty large daily bill.

If I was WH I'd be fighting for a settlement out of court and hoping to get away with £30-35m + costs up to now. Apart from anything else, if a court settles they'll probably add interest to the oustanding debt. It doesn't take a genius to work out the interest on that amount from the date of the claim!!!

 

[Linz]

I can't see them walking away from a court case with anything less than a major hit and huge amount of additional legal costs bearing in mind it could drag on for some time and WH will probably be liable for both sides costs if it comes out against them.

I think West Ham know that... but they'll be keen to get it sorted to try and get the club flogged.

Hopefully all these factors will work in our favour!

 

[beightonblade]

if the cheats think McCabe is daft let them carry on at there peril !

 

[Linz]

The Mirror is reporting:

West Ham will pay Sheffield United nothing over Carlos Tevez affair

Sheffield United face a stormy tribunal next week with West Ham after learning the Hammers propose paying them no compensation over the Carlos Tevez affair.

A tribunal will reconvene on Monday to consider the size of damages to the Blades, who were relegated from the Premier League in 2007.

They want £46million, but West Ham's legal team aim to prove the cost of salaries in the top flight mean the Blades would not have been better off if they had stayed up.

The headline says they aren't going to pay us anything, the story says they're going to claim they don't have to.

 

[dingledog]

Its a reasonable starting position for them to adopt, especially as they dont have any money. It doesnt mean however that that is where the final settlement will lay. We will see.