Former Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock is seriously
considering whether to pursue a personal compensation claim against
West Ham United over the Carlos Tevez affair.
Neil Warnock: Still seething over the Tevez affair
The Blades and West Ham settled the long-running affair out of
court on Monday with the Hammers agreeing to pay their rivals an
undisclosed fee believed to be as high £25m following the Sheffield
club's relegation in 2007.
West Ham were fined £5.5m by the Premier League for failing to
fully disclose the terms of the deal that brought Tevez and
Argentinian compatriot Javier Mascherano to England.
Sheffield United claim Tevez's goals kept the Hammers in the top
flight at their expense, with Warnock resigning three days after
their relegation.
Warnock has long contended that he and Sheffield United's
relegated players could sue West Ham for loss of earnings resulting
from their relegation to the Championship.
The 60-year-old, now manager of Crystal Palace, told the
Daily Mail: ''I'll be looking into this now. I just wanted
to see the club's case out of the way first.
''As far as I'm concerned, I should still be a Premier League
manager. And I think the players have a case, too.''
Warnock is not alone in considering taking matter further with
reports in The Times suggesting that as many as 20 past
and present Sheffield United's players are considering their own
legal action against the Hammers for loss of wages and bonuses.
Referring to the settlement, Warnock continued: ''It justifies
what we've said all along. We've had a lot of people criticise us
for taking it this far - but that's what justice is all about. But
this still doesn't make it right for me or the United fans - or
anyone else involved.''
Warnock reiterated his view that Premier League chief executive
Richard Scudamore should have resigned over the affair and believes
a bigger club would have been treated differently.
''I think Scudamore is an absolute disgrace,'' added Warnock.
''I'd love to get him in a room on my own for an hour, no holds
barred. If it was any other club, Scudamore would have made sure
the facts came out. I find it amazing that he has kept his job.
''If it had been a big club, the truth would have come out
earlier and it would have been sorted.''
A joint investigation by the Premier League and Football
Association into the Tevez and Mascherano signings is ongoing.
ownself lousy kena relegated and fired want blame others