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West Ham ready to fight Warnock in Tevez affair
Ken Dyer and Ben Hunt17.03.09
West Ham will vigorously defend any legal action taken by Neil Warnock over the Carlos Tevez affair.
The former Sheffield United boss confirmed today that he is considering launching a private claim for compensation against the Hammers.
Warnock, now in charge at Crystal Palace, believes that the out-of-court settlement reached between West Ham and the Blades yesterday allows him to launch his own action.
The 60-year-old feels he would still be managing in the Premier League if it had not been for the part Tevez played in keeping West Ham in the top flight in 2007.
It is also understood that some former Sheffield United players are considering suing for lost bonuses but Hammers officials are confident that they can rebuff any action because they believe the original independent FA arbitration panel ruling against West Ham last year did not allow for any individual claims.
Hammers owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson, who was at last night's goalless draw with West Brom, had hoped the £15million out-of-court settlement would bring the saga to an end. But Warnock, a life-long Blades fan, will not let the matter drop.
The current Palace boss said: “People have been criticised for taking it this far but all the while we were in the right.
“There should have been action taken sooner but at least now there is an agreement between the two clubs.
“You cannot put right the disappointment. I just think if it was a bigger club, it would have been dealt with at the time.”
Warnock also renewed his attack on Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore today, calling for him to be sacked over his role in the affair.
“I am very bitter about Richard Scudamore at the Premier League because Sheffield United was my dream job,” Warnock told Sky Sports News.
“I find it amazing that Richard Scudamore is still in a job at the Premier League. I just find it amazing.
“I think all along if the facts were known it would have been dealt with sooner. It's nice to be able to justify it now the facts have been made.”
Reader views (3)
Pity this story has just started. It's such a joke it would have gone down a storm on Comic Relief.
- Danny Harris,, Sydney, Australia
How can a man like Warnock be so bitter and twisted over something that would have happened anyway. Sheffield United were just not good enough when it mattered. He is making himself look greedy and pathetic now two seasons after the event. Do yourself a favour Neil and just be grateful that people still remember your name.
- Pamela Mckay, Dagenham Essex
Go for it Warnock ! Then the findings of the Griffiths tribunal can be properly cross examined and you, and well as the team you managed, that your decision to field a weakened team against Man Utd was beneficial to Sheffield United's campaign to stay in the Premiership, and will have to prove that Sheffield United losing an 11 point lead over West Ham was down to Carlos Tevez, even though the team defeated West Ham with Tevez 3-0 in the run in, and that all Sheffield United had to do was draw at hom to Wigan on the last day of the season. Since you lost, a 0-0 draw would have sufficed for West Ham, so how will you prove under cross examination that either you or your team were of Premier League standard ?
- John Bloomfield, Twickenham
