silverfox
Well-Known Member
From todays papers....
West Ham say they are ready to go to court to fight a new legal challenge from the owners of Carlos Tevez over £7 million in 'unpaid' fees relating to his one-year spell at Upton Park.
Kia Joorabchian, the player's agent and front man for the two offshore companies which own the Manchester United striker, filed a writ in the Chancery Division of the High Court last week.
His lawyers are due to lodge a particulars of claim at the court today but, according to the writ, Joorabchian is seeking an outstanding sum of £4.5 million, plus a further £2.6 million which, he alleges, was due to be paid to him by West Ham on Jan 31.
Joorabchian is understood to be claiming he has documentary and taped evidence to back up his claims.
But West Ham insist they do not owe the north London businessman any money, adding that they are prepared to go to court to prove it.
"We have been aware of this claim from Mr Joorabchian for some time," said a spokesman for the club. "In our view there is no substance to it and, if necessary, we will defend our position in court."
West Ham say they will not know exactly what Joorabchian is claiming until he files the particulars with the court. He is not thought to be seeking any monies on behalf of Tevez. Instead, it is thought the claim relates to loan fees, insurance for the player and other agents' fees he believes he was contractually entitled to.
The first part of the claim is understood to be linked to promises made by the club's former chairman, Terry Brown, and managing director, Paul Aldridge, who negotiated the original loan deal which took Tevez and Argentine team-mate Javier Mascherano to West Ham in August 2006.
The second tranche of £2.6 million is understood to relate to a verbal agreement Joorabchian says he had with Eggert Magnusson - the club's former chairman and frontman for the Icelandic takeover by billionaire Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson in November 2006.
West Ham maintain no verbal or written agreements exist to back up Joorabchian's claims. They also believe that any outstanding issues with Joorabchian or Tevez's owners, Just Sports Inc and Media Sports Investment, were settled at the time of last August's out-of-court deal which secured the player's transfer to Manchester United.
At that time, in an agreement designed to placate the Premier League, Just Sport and MSI agreed to pay West Ham £2 million for the release of Tevez's registration. United agreed to pay Just Sport and MSI a £5 million loan fee plus £5 million a year to Tevez in wages. The deal avoided a court battle which could have cost West Ham £30 million.
A Football Association arbitration panel are due to rule next month on Sheffield United's claim that West Ham should not have been allowed to continue playing Tevez after they were found guilty of breaching league rules on third party ownership last season.
A Premier League chairmen's meeting tomorrow is expected to prohibit the third party ownership of players.
West Ham say they are ready to go to court to fight a new legal challenge from the owners of Carlos Tevez over £7 million in 'unpaid' fees relating to his one-year spell at Upton Park.
Kia Joorabchian, the player's agent and front man for the two offshore companies which own the Manchester United striker, filed a writ in the Chancery Division of the High Court last week.
His lawyers are due to lodge a particulars of claim at the court today but, according to the writ, Joorabchian is seeking an outstanding sum of £4.5 million, plus a further £2.6 million which, he alleges, was due to be paid to him by West Ham on Jan 31.
Joorabchian is understood to be claiming he has documentary and taped evidence to back up his claims.
But West Ham insist they do not owe the north London businessman any money, adding that they are prepared to go to court to prove it.
"We have been aware of this claim from Mr Joorabchian for some time," said a spokesman for the club. "In our view there is no substance to it and, if necessary, we will defend our position in court."
West Ham say they will not know exactly what Joorabchian is claiming until he files the particulars with the court. He is not thought to be seeking any monies on behalf of Tevez. Instead, it is thought the claim relates to loan fees, insurance for the player and other agents' fees he believes he was contractually entitled to.
The first part of the claim is understood to be linked to promises made by the club's former chairman, Terry Brown, and managing director, Paul Aldridge, who negotiated the original loan deal which took Tevez and Argentine team-mate Javier Mascherano to West Ham in August 2006.
The second tranche of £2.6 million is understood to relate to a verbal agreement Joorabchian says he had with Eggert Magnusson - the club's former chairman and frontman for the Icelandic takeover by billionaire Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson in November 2006.
West Ham maintain no verbal or written agreements exist to back up Joorabchian's claims. They also believe that any outstanding issues with Joorabchian or Tevez's owners, Just Sports Inc and Media Sports Investment, were settled at the time of last August's out-of-court deal which secured the player's transfer to Manchester United.
At that time, in an agreement designed to placate the Premier League, Just Sport and MSI agreed to pay West Ham £2 million for the release of Tevez's registration. United agreed to pay Just Sport and MSI a £5 million loan fee plus £5 million a year to Tevez in wages. The deal avoided a court battle which could have cost West Ham £30 million.
A Football Association arbitration panel are due to rule next month on Sheffield United's claim that West Ham should not have been allowed to continue playing Tevez after they were found guilty of breaching league rules on third party ownership last season.
A Premier League chairmen's meeting tomorrow is expected to prohibit the third party ownership of players.
