Whelan: We could sue Hammers

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Lawyers are looking into the findings of an independent panel that last week ordered the club to pay a fine of £5.5million after finding them guilty of two charges of irregularities relating to the transfers.

"The legal issue is being looked at by lawyers and QCs," confirmed Whelan. "Whether anything comes of it I cannot say because we are waiting for their advice. But the chairmen and chief executives of the clubs involved have spoken quite a lot about this these past few days, and two of the clubs are obtaining legal advice."

Whelan believes they should have been deducted 10 points but it is understood the Premier League are privately satisfied with the commission's final judgment.

The commission, chaired by Simon Bourne-Arton QC, was free to hand down any penalty it felt proportionate and appropriate as there is no recommended sanction contained within the regulations, nor has there been a precedent to the charges faced by the Hammers.

It is believed lawyers representing Fulham and Middlesbrough are at the forefront of deciding whether there are grounds to sue.

If that is the case then those two clubs will be supported by the Latics, Sheffield United and Charlton, sparking a potential civil war in English football.

Whelan added: "We, as a club, have not gone to the lawyers. If it is recommended we can take action with some element of success - we won't just be chasing nothing - then we will support it.

"If the advice we are given is positive and we can sue either West Ham or the Premier League, then I'm sure that will happen."