The announcement is also likely lead to a multi-million
pound compensation claim being lodged by the striker’s club, West
Ham United, who have been deprived of the services of a player who
cost them £7.25 million when he signed from Norwich City in January
2006.
Ashton, who will be 26 later this month, has desperately tried
to regain fitness but has not played a senior match for 14 months.
It’s understood that West Ham’s insurance claim may be as much as
£7 million – the amount the player is believed to be covered
for.
Ashton himself, who was marked out by Fabio Capello, when the
Italian was appointed England manager, as a first-choice for his
country, is also considering making a damages claim. This could
also be lodged against the FA although there is also the
possibility that Ashton could take action against Shaun
Wright-Phillips, who tackled him during the England training
session in August 2006 that caused the injury.
Ashton is suffering from chronic degeneration to his ankle.
Although he can run, and is believed to be in outstanding physical
shape apart from his ankle, Ashton cannot twist or turn or take any
impact on the joint and is also in constant discomfort. Indeed he
has been warned that he may end up being unable to walk properly if
he continues to try and play football and may require further
surgery in any case.
After the initial injury, which ruled him out for 11 months,
Ashton did play again and made a further 35 appearances for West
Ham, scoring 11 goals and earning himself a new five-year deal at
the club last summer which placed him among the highest earners.
However he broke down once more in September 2008, just four games
into the season, and has been unable to play since despite manager
Gianfranco Zola hoping he would eventually make a recovery.
There was even interest from other clubs, including Stoke City,
in Ashton over the summer.
Even over the weekend Zola reiterated the view that he still
hoped Ashton would recover but that now appears impossible.
Following consultations with several specialists, including the
Dutch surgeon Niek van Dyke, who originally operated on Ashton,
West Ham have reluctantly accepted that the striker’s career is
over.
Van Dyke is thought to be believe that Ashton’s problems stem
from the injury suffered on England duty. However the insurance
claim is complicated given that Ashton did make a recovery to play
again and even managed to finally earn an England cap, playing
against Trinidad & Tobago last year.
The FA beefed up its insurance cover after a dispute with
Newcastle United following Michael Owen’s injury in the last World
Cup but the Ashton claim will have to be dealt with by the previous
company.
The announcement is a severe blow to West Ham although the club
will be hopeful of, at least, recouping some money through its
compensation claim which may eventually be used to bolster Zola’s
attacking options.
