Ihave been out of radio contact today so I have only just caught up with the news that West Ham and Sheffield United have reportedly agreed an out of court settlement over Sheffield United’s claim for damages over the Tevez affair. It seems that we will be paying them £10 million over five years.
I suppose a deal of this sort was inevtiable but it creates a very bad precedent and leaves a terrible taste in the mouth. It cements Sheffield United’s reputation as our most hated team, I guess.
I think the main thing is that the settlement of this dispute means that it will be easier for the club’s owners to seek a sale. No one was going to buy us until this was resolved. I suspect that a deal will now go ahead sooner rather than later.
What’s your view?
Even Jason Burt in the Independent is suggesting the final compensation package is a lot higher than the 10 million he first reported??
….-The settlement, the terms of which will remain confidential, is understood to be more than West Ham had hoped to pay but far less than the £45m being demanded by the Blades who have agreed to drop any further legal action. By paying it over five years, West Ham, however, can afford the settlement-….
Full article: (from saturday):
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/west-ham-to-offer-zola-sweetened-deal-1644809.html
Most of the papers seem to be going with an overall figure of around 25 million.
Quite apt that Pards should use the term raped on MotD
That is how most Hammers fans probably feel – and now that SU players, led by hypocrite Warnock, are asking for their payout, it may get worse.
Look forward to receiving my season ticket renewal – where will I get a mortgage to pay it ?
Told you this sage wont go away. Mangers, players , chairmen even the boot cleaner at D&R will b after his or hers half-penney now we have as good as admitted we will pay for a mistake. Everyone wonts a piece of us. Sad day for football.
can’t believe SUFC have the nerve to say our relationship is still intact and they look forward to being able to loan our players!!!!! i’ll be disgusted if any of our players go there, unless they bang in a few own goals a game.
Just heard Chris Somik from IPS Law, the lawyer representing Sheff Utd staff current / former who wish to sue WHUFC, talking to Five Live.
The presenter, forgot his name sorry, made a good point regarding the the players who joined other Premier League clubs following Sheff Utds relegation asking if they had the right to sue for loss of earnings because they actually wouldn’t have been afected. The lawyer replied they were still entitled to their bonuses. Im not being funny but surely these particular highly payed players can live without those bonuses, the fee this lawyers stands to earn, win or lose, well thats a different matter isn’t it.
The presenter also made the point that can these staff sue WHUFC if there contract was with SUFC. Perhaps they should sue the Premier League for not ensuring that the paperwork was all in order regarding Carlos playing those last 3 games, after all, as the leagues ruling body is that not a failure of there responsibility to member clubs? It may be squeaky bum time for Mr Scudamore……..
Is was surprised to hear the lawyer say that he expects WHUFC to agree that this matter can go to arbitration howver, why would WHUFC agree to that?
He also mentioned that WHUFC had been set a deadline to give their response.
Will this ever go away you have to wonder.
I hope to God that Duxbury and the board know what they are doing on this settlement business. If not, we could really be in the brown stuff.
There must be some kind of solid / in writing evidence that WHUFC lied a second time to the Prem.
Iain, do you or anybody else in the press world have a direct / second hand link to Scott Duxbury or West Ham’s PR?? The club MUST make a further statement soon or insist the Premier League make a statement to clearly define what everyone at West Ham knows, but no one outside the club seems to understand, which is the FACT that West Ham DID succesfully register Tevez to play and that the entire issue / compensation payment to Sheff Utd is based purely on the technicality of 3rd party ownership ONLY.
Does anyone think Kia secretly influenced Tevez to do anything other than to do what he was paid to do – score goals for West Ham? The answer is no, so clearly there was no untoward 3rd party influence. This uncomfortable fact needs to be forced down everyone’s throats. I’m sick and tired of this bullshit from our Northern Friends who do no understand this fact, so also do not see how McCabe has hoodwinked everyone, including that pratt Lord Griffiths, into believing a technicality in Tevez’s registeration actually contributed to Sheff United relagtion over their 38 games that season.
I think it is essential the club and the Premier League reiterate this FACT because now more so than ever, it seems we are be labelled as cheats.
There is a really interesting and well written piece in the Daily Mail ( yes, I know it is hard to believe!) which is frightening!
Heres a link to it (I hope)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1162842/MARTIN-SAMUEL-II-Relegation-Lawyers-4U-winners-Tevez-ruling.html
Ken Bates is wading in now as well:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/article-23663714-details/Bates+could+give+Blades+a+taste+of+their+own+medicine/article.do
Who next? Sheffield United’s shirt manufacturers, the sponsors, the club’s pie makers…?