First the Tevez saga, now here comes the Curbishley chronicle

West Ham may have reached settlement with Sheffield United over the Carlos Tevez affair, but there are no signs of a deal with former manager Alan Curbishley.

Court proceedings began yesterday over the 51-year-old's £2.5million legal claim for unfair dismissal, filed in the wake of his departure from Upton Park last September. The case is expected to last into early next month with both sides confident of success. Curbishley's camp claim he was compelled to resign after the club broke the terms of his contract by no longer giving him the final say on transfers.

The sales of Anton Ferdinand and George McCartney to Sunderland are understood to be central to the case. West Ham, who have already splashed out on compensation to Sheffield United and Chelsea (for Steve Clarke) this season, believe they have a strong argument because Curbishley chose to quit and was made aware of the club's financial need to sell players.

Some kit cat-calls for Blues staff

Frank Lampard and John Terry were not the only Chelsea representatives getting the bird from West Ham fans at Saturday's derby.

After a mix-up led to the Blues bus leaving Upton Park without a large quantity of the squad's kit, three members of Chelsea's communications staff stepped in to ferry the items back to west London in a car.

As the trio crossed the players' car park carrying the kit, their club suits and ties were spotted by a group of West Ham fans and some vigorous banter ensued. Unlike Terry and Lampard after Chelsea's goal, however, the staff members chose not to respond to the provocation.

Dos Santos clear in swine scare

Tottenham's Giovanni Dos Santos has been given the all-clear over the swine flu outbreak and won't be following Mexican compatriot Carlos Vela into quarantine.

Arsenal striker Vela was the subject of a scare after last week hosting friends from his homeland who could have come into contact with the virus. But Ipswich Town, where Dos Santos is currently on loan, are reassured because the 19-year-old has not been back to Mexico since the national side's clash with Costa Rica in Mexico City on 29 March.

A source close to the player added: “There is nothing to worry about, he's been in Ipswich for the last few weeks. I don't think anyone from Mexico has been to visit him either.”

Rhino charged in the Lions' Den

Millwall's player-of-the-year awards bash is never an easy gig for an after-dinner speaker but Dean Saunders earned rave reviews for an entertaining effort earlier this week.

The former Liverpool and Wales striker recalled his first playing appearance at the old Den leaving a bad taste in the mouth. It was the day before his wedding and Lions centre-back Keith “Rhino” Stevens knocked out two of his front teeth.

Dishing the dirt on Mutu's shirt

An own goal was scored by organisers of an auction at Queens Park Rangers' end-of-season dinner on Saturday night. Host Rodney Marsh was asked to invite bids for Adrian Mutu's Fiorentina shirt — donated by a sponsor — and not surprisingly none were forthcoming.

One of those attending the £70-per-head event told Talk: “What Rangers fan would want a Mutu shirt? Not only was he banned for cocaine but he played for Chelsea — our biggest rivals!”