03/05/2007 09:08
Three West Ham United players have received recognition for their performances in our 3-0 victory over Wigan Athletic on Saturday. Anton Ferdinand, Lucas Neill and Yossi Benayoun have all been included in The Actim Index Team of the Week - the Official Player Ratings of the Barclays Premiership.
Neill, who is the Club's highest ranked player in 94th position, played his part in securing a much-needed clean sheet and also set up Luis Boa Morte's opening goal in the crucial win with a long ball out from the back. This season he has made 98 tackles, 38 clearances, 41 interceptions, eight blocks, nine dribbles, 37 crosses and 251 passes in 2,688 minutes of Premiership action.
Ferdinand, currently ranked 128th in the Index, played a crucial role in subduing Emile Heskey and Henri Camara to join Neill in the elite XI. Actim Stats reveal that he has contributed 68 tackles, 42 clearances, 43 interceptions, 15 blocks, four dribbles, 112 passes and he has made one assist in 2,622 minutes of first team football.
Benayoun, who is currently in 206th position, scored our second goal and was instrumental in much of the side's attacking play as the Latics were swept aside at the JJB Stadium. So far this season he has scored three goals and had 36 shots in 2,219 minutes of football. He has also made 52 tackles, five clearances, 17 interceptions, one block, 30 dribbles, 18 crosses, three assists and 357 passes.
The Actim Index is calculated using a unique mathematical formula that rates each player's contribution be it goals, shots, passes, dribbles, tackles, crosses, saves, clearances, blocks, interceptions, time on the pitch or number of points gained by the team with marks deducted for red and yellow cards.
Two additional calculations, which take account of player assists and goalkeeper's clean sheets, have been added for the new season to increase the amount of variables a player is now measured by.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers squad back nurses campaign - WHUFC
03/05/2007 10:09
West Ham United today confirmed its support for the Mayday for Nurses campaign, with the first team squad pledging to donate a day's wages to a hardship fund for nurses. Four teams from the Premiership are now signed up to the Mayday for Nurses campaign, with 120 players from the English and Scottish Premierships committed to giving their cash.
Club captain Nigel Reo-Coker said: "It wasn't really a tough decision for the rest of the West Ham lads to agree to come on board with the campaign as it is such a good cause. "My mum is a nurse so I do understand first hand what their plight is and how bad the situation is concerning their wages which is why I was so eager to get involved with it all from day one."
The money raised by the campaign - launched by political economist and campaigner Dr Noreena Hertz - will form a hardship fund for nurses, whose plight inspired the campaign. Dr Hertz said: "I'm really delighted to have West Ham on board. I had fantastic support from Nigel Reo-Coker when I launched the campaign - and he's now done a great job by bringing the rest of his team mates on board too. "Nurses in this country are facing a growing crisis with student nurses unable to find jobs, while those in work struggle to make ends meet. Footballers cannot solve the nursing crisis - only the Government can do that - but they their support can make a massive difference to nurses' daily lives."
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Brown reflects on reserve campaign - WHUFC
03/05/2007 11:54
West Ham United Reserves' five match winning run came to an end on the final day of their season with defeat at home to Reading but Coach Steve Brown reflects on a largely positive campaign. "I desperately didn't want the season to end that way," he said. "Because the players have given me, in the main, since I've been here, decent performances. There haven't been many I can recall where I've come off and I've been upset. "My first game in charge we lost 4-1 away at Fulham but I'd only been in the building two days. I was just getting to know the boys. Once I got in the building and settled down, they've mostly given me very good performances. "They've tried their hardest, they've put on a show, we've had some great results of late and it's an absolute shame and a disappointment that we ended the season with a 4-0 defeat. "All in all, once I'd got here, got used to the environment and the set-up and we'd settled down, we started to string some performances together. "We were getting draws and perhaps not getting what we deserved then it all clicked in and we were getting what we deserved. Over the course of the season, I'm satisfied. It just leaves a bitter taste in the mouth to end that way."
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
A tribute to Hammers fans - our 12th man! - WHUFC
03/05/2007 13:02
West Ham United fans will once again be out in force to cheer their team on in our vital last home match of the season against Bolton Wanderers on Saturday. This week the supporters have been praised by Chairman Eggert Magnusson and manager Alan Curbishley for their backing, not just at the JJB Stadium, but throughout the season. A travelling army of around 5,500 made the long trip up to Wigan on Saturday morning, many going up on the free coaches that were supplied by the Club. A total of 34 coaches left the Boleyn Ground just after 7.00am and made their way up to the north west, packed with supporters who were all in good voice before the match and were certainly in more than good spirits after witnessing a superb performance by the team that resulted in the 3-0 victory over the Latics.
Fans armed with whistles, claret and blue wigs, flags, banners and quite literally anything they could wave made the away-day tie look like a home match, something that Curbs acknowledged, saying "Driving into the ground, all we could see was claret and blue" As they once again prepare to get behind the players this weekend, many fans spoke of their delight at the gesture of last weekend's free travel and of their high hopes for a good ending to the season.
Peter Bartram, from Essex, said: "We are all feeling positive. West Ham can honestly say they have had loyal support over the years and the free travel is one way of paying that back. Although I think you will find Hammers fans in their thousands following the team whether it was free or not. That's just what we are about." He added: "Mr Magnusson seems to have taken that on board and we are hopefully looking towards a good future with the plans he has for the club."
And Geoff Randall, also from Essex, said: "We want to support our team home and away. There are also those of us with children, who are the next generation of West Ham fans and the free travel did help as going to football is an expensive business these days. "It's great going up on the coach, there's always a good atmosphere, win or lose, although coming back after a match when you have won, there is no better feeling! "It's a life sentence being a West Ham fan, but we really wouldn't have it any other way!"
*To read more from the fans and hear about some of their away-day stories over the years, see our three-page feature special in Saturday's matchday programme.
by Laura Burkin
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Whelan may sue West Ham & league - BBC
Wigan chairman Dave Whelan says he may sue West Ham and the Premier League after the Hammers were only fined for fielding ineligible players. Whelan believes West Ham got off lightly with the £5.5m fine for playing Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez. "This is a very serious offence West Ham committed," said Whelan. "They broke the law, told blatant lies and should have got a 10-point penalty. "If we can sue West Ham or the Premier League, I am sure that will happen."
With two games left in the season, Wigan are one place above West Ham and the drop zone, separated only by goal difference. Whelan believes his club and the others fighting for their lives at the bottom of the Premiership have been treated badly by West Ham's punishment. He added: "Justice would be West Ham being one of the two clubs that still has to go down, but justice has so far not been served in this case. "If there was any action taken by the bottom six clubs that are in danger of going down, I'd be a big supporter of that action. "I think the bottom six will stick together and take action together whichever two clubs go down, if West Ham aren't one of them. "If any action is taken I think it'll be in the next 14 days and I'll support any action that the clubs want to take. "The chairmen and chief executives have all spoken and two, maybe three clubs are in the process of taking legal advice, Wigan being one of them. "Would we sue the league? We don't know whether we could. Would we sue West Ham? Again, we need to find out whether we can."
Whelan also says the Premier League needs to undergo a radical overhaul to stop this from happening again. "The Premier League is in a bit of turmoil because the officials and the clubs all know what happened was not right," said Whelan. "I have no anger with West Ham or their supporters. They are a great club and get very well supported. "But the Premier League have handled this in a very poor manner and I think it should have been passed on to the Football Association for them to sort it out."
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Ex-chief prepares to sue West Ham - BBC
Former West Ham chairman Terry Brown is threatening to take legal action against the Premiership club, says BBC sports editor Mihir Bose. Brown is furious after being sent a letter terminating the contract he signed when he sold the club. "This is a result of the record fine that had been imposed upon the club because of the Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano transfer.
"Brown is now threatening to take legal action," Bose told Five Live Sport. "West Ham hold him responsible for what they allege is a breach of trust as chairman. "His contract allowed him to earn £1.5m until 31 May 2009, and it had all sorts of other privileges such as directors' box seats and the job of vice-president. "That has all gone and he is furious and threatening to take legal action."
West Ham were fined £5.5m for a breach of transfer regulations following the transfers of Argentine duo Tevez and Mascherano last summer. Brown was chairman of the London club until Eggert Magnusson's £85m takeover in November. Brown's former managing director Paul Aldridge has already threatened legal action, saying his reputation has been "besmirched" by the inquiry into the transfers of Tevez and Mascherano. Aldridge was at the club when the pair were signed. He says he was not called as a witness, invited to give a statement or notified in advance of allegations against him. Aldridge said: "Naturally, my sympathies lie with the club I was chief executive of for 10 years in respect of what seems a very harsh sanction. "However, my own personal and professional reputations have been besmirched. The findings accuse me of acting dishonestly and lying. "This is hardly natural justice in my view. Until the publication of these findings, my integrity has never been questioned during my career. "Accordingly, I have placed the matter in the hands of my lawyer who will be taking the matter further on my behalf."
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham v Bolton - BBC
Upton Park
Saturday, 5 May
Kick-off: 1500 BST
Coverage on the BBC Sport website, BBC Radio Five Live & highlights on MOTD
Team news will appear here.
BIG-MATCH FACTS
WEST HAM UNITED continue their last ditch effort to retain Premiership status with a third successive win and sixth in eight outings, against a Bolton side under new management.
Alan Curbishley's club looked down and out as they entered April. One off the foot, five points short of safety with Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Bolton and Manchester United to play. But such has been their form that only goal difference separates them from safety, with Old Trafford still to visit after this.
The last time these clubs met at Upton Park, West Ham took the Trotters to extra time in an FA Cup fifth round replay before Marlon Harewood scored for a 2-1 win. It took the east Londoners one step nearer on their journey to the Millennium Stadium. The result was the other way round in the equivalent League fixture in August, when Bolton brought an end to what had been an encouraging start to life in the Premier League with clinical finishing from Kevin Nolan and substitute Ivan Campo.
BOLTON WANDERERS enter a new era following the shock resignation of manager Sam Allardyce and appointment of Sammy Lee as his successor, with the evergreen Gary Speed succeeding Lee as first team coach.
Wanderers are in pole position for Uefa Cup qualification for the second time in three seasons, but have not won in four outings.
The Trotters are vying for a fifth straight League victory against West Ham. They recorded their first Premiership win at Upton Park in five attempts last season, and have put four League goals past the Hammers twice on their own patch since. That includes a 4-0 triumph at the Reebok in Gary Speed's 500th Premier League appearance in December, to set up the possibility of a second successive 'double' over them.
REFEREE
Mike Riley (Leeds, Yorkshire)
Premiership referees' table
Mike Riley's 2006-07 Premiership card count
SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM
WEST HAM UNITED
Club stats
Fixtures
18th 35 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 15th
Lowest could fall: 18th
1. Lost more Premiership matches than any other club this season (21).
2. Conceded 58 goals at one every 56 minutes on average - a defensive record equalled only by relegated Watford.
3. Failed to score in 17 Premiership matches. Only Manchester City and Watford have missed the target more often (18 each).
4. Opened the scoring 11 times. Only Watford have taken the lead less frequently in the highest echelon (eight times).
5. Conceded the opening goal in more top tier matches this term than any other club (24).
6. Their previous lowest points total in a Premier League season was 42. The most recent of the three occasions when that number was accrued was 2002-03, when it wasn't sufficent to avoid relegation. The best they can accumulate this time is 41.
7. These are the two worst behaved clubs in the highest League. West Ham players have been shown 84 cards (two red, 82 yellow), Bolton 81 (four reds, 77 yellow).
8. Won as many home League matches as the Trotters have achieved on the road (seven).
9. Already been 'doubled' six times by Portsmouth, Manchester City, Reading, Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea.
10. Will finish the season away to Manchester United on Sunday, 13 May.
BOLTON WANDERERS
Club stats
Fixtures
5th 55 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 5th
Lowest could fall: 7th
1. Drawn two and lost two of the last four since beating Wigan 1-3 away on 7 April.
2. Scored in each of the last 13 League outings.
3. Won four Premiership matches from losing positions. Only Arsenal and Manchester United exceed that with five victories from games in which they were trailing.
4. 10 different players have scored their 44 goals in the highest echelon. No club has a shorter goalscorers list, although Blackburn, Sheffield United and Watford also have 10 marksmen.
5. Won 80 and lost 80 of 226 Premiership matches under Sam Allardyce.
6. Highest points total for a Premiership campaign was 58 in the season before last. Will equal that with a victory here, and still one to play thereafter.
7. The only club in the top nine with a negative goal difference.
8. Lost three of the last five League games on the road.
9. 'Doubled' Newcastle, Portsmouth and Watford so far.
10. Wrap up the campaign home to Aston Villa on Sunday, 13 May.
KEY PLAYER NOTES/POTENTIAL MILESTONES
WEST HAM UNITED
Squad profiles
Bobby ZAMORA is West Ham's leading scorer with 11 goals - all in the Premiership.
Marlon HAREWOOD is a hat trick short of 50 League goals for the Hammers and one shy of 100 career League goals (Nottingham Forest, Ipswich and West Ham).
If on the field at kick off, HAREWOOD will be making his 150th start in a West Ham shirt.
Dean ASHTON needs a double to bring his career total of club goals to 100.
If he lines up for the kick-off, Daniel GABBIDON will be making his 50th Premiership start for the Upton Park club.
When next he lines-up for the opening whistle, Teddy SHERINGHAM will be making his 50th start for the east Londoners. He's also a hat trick shy of 150 career Premier League goals.
If he figures, Hayden MULLINS will be making his 350th career League appearance (Crystal Palace and West Ham).
If he takes the field, Lucas NEILL will also be making his 350th career League appearance (Millwall, Blackburn and West Ham).
If he participates, Yossi BENAYOUN will be playing on his 27th birthday.
BOLTON WANDERERS
Squad profiles
Nicolas ANELKA is Bolton's leading scorer with 12 goals - 11 in the Premiership.
Jussi JAASKELAIKEN is the only remaining player to have been on the field for every minute of every one of Bolton's Premiership matches this season.
Gary SPEED is the only other player to have started every one of Bolton's top flight fixtures this term.
If he plays again, SPEED will be extending his record breaking number of Premier League appearances to 520. He has made 45 more appearances than Portsmouth goalkeeper David JAMES - the second in the list.
LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
West Ham United 1-2 Bolton Wanderers
27 August 2005 - Ref: Phil Dowd
West Ham scorer: Sheringham 90 pen
Bolton scorers: Nolan 59, Campo 85
THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE
Bolton Wanderers 4-0 West Ham United
9 December 2006 - Ref: Howard Webb
Bolton scorers: Davies 17, 52, Diouf 77, Anelka 78
HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS
Home and away
League: West Ham 17 wins, Bolton 23, Draws 7
Prem: West Ham 4 wins, Bolton 5, Draws 2
at West Ham only
League: West Ham 14 wins, Bolton 6, Draws 3
Prem: West Ham 3 wins, Bolton 1, Draws 1
The "League" figures in these Head to Head totals include all Premiership matches
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham Utd v Bolton: preview - KUMB
Filed: Thursday, 3rd May 2007
By: Matthew Coker
Well, this week sees close of play at the Boleyn for another season as we get near to some well deserved r&r over the summer. However, there will be no easygoing end of term feel to this one as the Hammers fight for their very survival in what promises to be an emotional afternoon in the East End of London.
We have been decreed a 3pm kick off and welcome our opponents, Bolton Wanderers, down from the North West for their second successive trip to the smoke. Before I begin a rundown of their season so far, they do deserve credit for attaining a draw at Stamford Bridge last weekend which well and truly stuffed up Mourinho's hopes of football dominance. Much as our win up at Wigan was the highlight of last weekend, I also got a warm glow in my soul with Match of the Day's panning around the home support who went from their usual position of unshakable arrogance early on in the game, to suffering the deflating burst of bubble as they realised that they weren't going to be allowed to buy the league for the third year in a row.
Ok, niceties over, the facts about our opponents are that they currently sit 5th in the Premiership and will be hoping to stay there or thereabouts. They flirted with Champions League qualification but are now looking as though the second tier UEFA competition will be their destination, providing they don't blow it.
They have achieved their league position with decent home form, having taken 31 points at the Reebok. This run has involved turning over the usual suspects (us, Fulham, Sheffield United, Watford) as well as beating mid table sides Newcastle and Portsmouth. The two notable scalps have been Arsenal (3-1 in November) and Liverpool (in September when the Reds were undergoing their usual slow start).
More to the point, on the road, they have achieved seven wins, again predominantly against strugglers such as Wigan and Watford and mid table sides including Citeh, Villa, and Blackburn and wins at Portsmouth and Newcastle saw them do the double over the two former Hammer's bosses employed elsewhere in football's top flight.
On a positive note (for us), they have lost away eight times and have also suffered some real batterings. The videos of the games against Man Yoo (4-1), T*tenham (4-1) and Middlesbrough (5-1) should all give a few clues as to how to get at them, particularly as all of those games took place in the current calendar year and Liverpool, Everton, Charlton, Arsenal and Reading have been unhappy visits for the Trotters.
The point at the Bridge last week came slightly against a run that had seen them win only once in their last five (at the JJB) though Everton, Arsenal and Chelsea can be classed as a difficult run in. They also played Reading during this period, a game that saw the elder statesmen of Bolton collapse at the end in no small part due to the incredible level of fitness demonstrated by Steve Coppell's men.
The results prove that they can be got at and if you get it right against Bolton, it really can go right (proved by them enjoying a lofty league position but a negative goal difference). However, fifth place makes it clear that they are going to be a difficult side to beat and we will need to be much better than we were at the Reebok earlier in the season to achieve the desired result.
In charge will be the short, fat, offside Scouser, Sammy Lee, leading Bolton out for the first time at the Boleyn. He took over the position after last weekend's resignation of Big Sam Allerdyce, who no doubt has already instructed his football agent son, Craig, to see which of Newcastle and Citeh has the largest potential transfer pot, strictly for skimming purposes.
Apart from noting that Bolton have followed the same approach as us of trying to save money on the name plate on the manager's office, there is little that I can say about Lee's as yet unproven managerial capability. The fans seem generally pleased about promoting from within and the continuity that brings, though they have conveniently forgotten Steve McLaren for the national side and Les Reed at Charlton are two examples of such a strategy not working out too well. Lee will not lack experience in his performance in front of the camera, where he has been on the rota for speaking to the BBC since Allerdyce's post documentary absence, last year.
In goal will be the Finnish international, Jussi Jaaskelainen, who has been with the Trotters for nigh on a decade. He has been an excellent servant to the club and has been a top class shot stopper throughout his career. His current form is good enough that he has been rewarded with the Bolton Supporters Association Player of the Year for this campaign's efforts.
Bolton currently top the Premiership's injury list league, with seven first teamers currently unavailable for duty, though several may return at the weekend. The defence is missing Israeli international, Tal Ben-Haim who is ruled out with a knee injury for the forseeable and possibly, Abdoulaye Diagne-Faye who has suffered a foot injury but may recover in time to face us. Failing that, the candidates for a start begin with Richardo Gardener on the left side. The injury suffering full back is a fan's favourite and put in a noteworthy performance at the Bridge last week.
Last week's makeshift defence featured Slovakian man mountain, Lubomir Michalik, who was recalled from his loan spell at Leeds, where he gained rave reviews. He has put in two decent performances and marked his first starting appearance at Chelsea by scoring the opener. Frenchman, Abdoulaye Meite, should join him in M&M duo the middle and we may be treated to Ivan Campo, in the shape of a man who downs family sized bags of M&M's for breakfast, covering on the right if Nicky Hunt has not recovered from a calf injury.
The midfield line up is slightly difficult to predict as they have suffered several injuries in this area in recent weeks, meaning that there were a couple of squad players lining up last weekend but they have a few coming back at the weekend. In respect of a formation, Bolton tend to favour a 4-3-3 formation with a two wide attacking players who also cover defensive duties, so you could call it a 4-5-1 and they also played 4-1-3-2 at Chelsea at times. However the digits pan out, they tend to feature a holding midfielder, possibly Iranian international, Andranik Teimourian, who at 5ft 4in is a relative small man but one who boasts a fair old burst of speed.
Two more recognisable names are the versatile veteran Gary Speed and the club captain, Kevin Nolan. The latter was being touted for the national team last season by the fans but has been in relatively poor form in the current campaign. His shooting boots have seemed to have deserted him this year, as his tally of 5 underlines and his current shape resembles a man well acquainted with a Greggs bakery menu.
The depleted midfield last week featured wideman, David Thompson, who has not had much of a chance in the first team since his arrival, though has been involved in recent weeks. He has worked hard to get back into shape and is capable of passing the ball but is a little overeager at the moment, leading to frequent silly yellow cards. Israeli midfielder, Idan Tal also got a run out last weekend but has struggled to cope with the physical side of the English hence, meaning his first team opportunities have been limited.
One of those that may return from injury to face us is Stelios Giannakopoulos. The diminutive, diving Greek has not recaptured the form of year's gone by over this campaign but has shown a few glimpses of talent in recent outings.
Up front, they are still struggling to get the best out of £8m summer signing, Nicolas Anelka. Despite his obvious quality of touch, finish and ability to take those all important one on one chances, he is pony in the air and therefore his game is not a natural fit at Bolton. There is a need to alter the teams strategy to really benefit from Le Sulk's talents and his goal tally of eleven in the Premiership this season (several of which he has had to create himself from scratch) suggests that it is an avenue worth pursuing.
The ever popular with the opposition, El-Hadji Diouf continues to impress the Bolton fans with his committed and passionate performances. The player whose list of past misdemeanours makes Joey Barton appear to be the owner of a halo has weighed in with five finishes this campaign, but is not guaranteed to be involved if he has not recovered from a hamstring injury in time.
The third option is with Kevin Davies, who, unlike Anelka, is very much a player that is in the Bolton mould. A physical centre forward type who leads the line and has contributed eight this season, including a well deserved one against Chelsea last week. He is also an advocate of defend from the front, tending to make a nuisance of himself with defenders whenever they have possession. Bolton also have lacklustre Portugese striker, Richardo Vaz Te as an option.
We all know where we stand and just how important this game is. The total of 38 points has been mentioned continuously by numerous football dignitaries as the magic marker that will see us safe and one more victory will take us there. I'm personally not completely convinced by this and am only too aware of the West Ham way of doing things that saw us relegated with 42 points but then knowing us, it is equally plausible that we get the 38 points to stay up not by beating Bolton but by doing the double on Man Yoo.
Sticking to this week, I firmly believe that we can do it. Bolton can be a difficult side to beat and they will want to ensure European football next season. No doubt Sammy Lee will be keen to start his new role with a win and he may well have a couple of aces up his sleeve to give his side the element of surprise.
However, positives are running through our team like a shoplifter clutching a video recorder under his arm and starting at the back, we have a solid base to build on. It's not just the fact that we've kept two clean sheets that is impressive, but consider that England's number one has had hardly anything to do in the last two games and you'll see how resolute we have been of late. I'd hope that the back four have spent the last week working on defending set pieces over and over on the training complex and that they have been warned about the dangers of giving away silly free kicks.
Around the ground, I'm certain that the players will be backed to the max and I'm sure that it will be yet another croaky, throaty Sunday morning for me, post match. The fact that Bolton will be bringing their usual away following of around 27 fans will mean that the ground will be as partisan as possible, which will be to our advantage.
I'm going to plump for a 2-0 win with the roof coming off at the end of the game as we emerge from the bottom three blinking into the sunshine (if Liverpool and Middlesbrough do the business, of course).
Enjoy the game.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Whelan threatens legal action - Sky
By Chris Stanton - Created on 3 May 2007
Wigan chairman Dave Whelan claims five or six clubs would consider taking legal action against the Premier League and West Ham should The Hammers avoid relegation. Whelan claims he has held discussions with The Latics' relegation rivals following the Premier League's controversial decision not to dock The Hammers points for their mishandling of the transfers of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano. The Upton Park club were hit with a record reprimand of £5.5million but that is a mere drop in the ocean in comparison to the riches on offer for an extended stay in a top flight made even more lucrative from next season. "If West Ham manage to stay up we, as five or six clubs, who have been talking to each other, want to find out whether, one, could we sue the Premier League and, two, could we sue West Ham," Whelan told Sky Sports News. "Two clubs are getting legal advice and we're awaiting the outcome of that legal advice and if we get the advice that we would stand a good chance I think the bottom six clubs will do it. "We have to do something about this because what has gone on is not fair, it's not in the interests of the Premier League. "At present the Premier League is in turmoil because of certain allegations in the Sunday newspapers of the Argentinians still having a contract over this lad Tevez. "We're asking the question. Is that the case? And at the moment we have had no answer from the Premier League on that."
Whelan claimed the matter is one of principle and has vowed to remain loyal to his aggrieved 'coalition'. "If Wigan stayed up I would still support any club going down who felt a grievance. I would support them financially and I think we [the five or six clubs] would band together and do that."
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Whelan: We could sue Hammers over signings - Soccernet
Wigan chairman Dave Whelan is considering legal action against either West Ham or the Premier League following the furore surrounding the signings of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano.
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. 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. '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. '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.'
Whelan believes the commission shot themselves in the foot with the explanations they gave for levying the record fine. Whelan added: 'If football clubs have to sue their own league, or one of their own members, then I think that is a shame. 'I have nothing against West Ham or their supporters. They are a great club, and they are well supported. 'But the Premier League have handled this in a very poor manner. The law is the law, and I think the whole league has been treated badly. 'You only have to read the summing up of the judge. He said he did not want to deduct points because West Ham have a great fan base. That's rubbish. 'Liverpool and Manchester United have great fan bases. Does that mean if they do wrong in the future, they will never be deducted points? 'He also said that as it was so late in the season he didn't want to deduct points because it would have meant them being relegated. 'Well, why it wasn't it heard a few months ago when all this came to light? 'It was Liverpool who blew the whistle on this when they signed Mascherano (in January). 'Rick Parry didn't like the contract, so he got in touch with the league, and that is what started the ball rolling. 'That is when they found out West Ham were telling blatant lies. It's all there in a nutshell. 'West Ham have broken the rules and they should have had a much stiffer penalty than £5.5million - a figure that is peanuts to the £35million they will get if they stay up. 'They should have had what every other club would get if they had done this. They should have been punished properly with a 10-point penalty.'
Tevez was inspirational in West Ham's 3-0 defeat to Wigan at the JJB Stadium on Saturday, offering further hope United can survive. Lawyers are also looking into just how quickly Tevez's contract was changed - with the third-party liability removed - allowing him to face the Latics. 'If that proves to be illegal, then we've a strong case to get the three points back we lost because that lad was very influential in that game,' insisted Whelan. 'Good luck to West Ham because they've got away with it, but I hope in the end that justice prevails and they go down.'
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Threatened clubs gang up on West Ham - Telegraph
By David Bond
Last Updated: 12:37am BST 04/05/2007
Wigan chairman Dave Whelan yesterday claimed that up to six clubs are considering legal action against the Premier League over their decision not to dock West Ham points for the Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano scandal. Branding the League a "shambles", Whelan said that West Ham should have had 10 points deducted for failing to disclose third party agreements with offshore companies who owned the Argentine players. Instead, they were hit with a staggering £5.5 million fine after they admitted breaching the Premier League's rules on third party interference. An independent commission, headed by lawyer Simon Bourne-Arton, also found that the club's officials had repeatedly lied to cover up the existence of the controversial contracts.
The League refused to be drawn into a public row with Wigan yesterday and are instead waiting to see if any clubs start legal proceedings against them. It is understood, however, that they maintain they followed the letter of the law in the case and that there is no precedent for a massive points deduction for the offence. But Whelan, whose Wigan side are in a direct fight with West Ham to avoid relegation, said that a number of other clubs, including Fulham and Middlesbrough, were so angry at the ruling that they were prepared to take the League to court. Whelan said: "There's six clubs involved and I know there are three at present receiving legal advice. You have owners involved as well as chairmen. You have the likes of Middlesbrough, the likes of Fulham where the owners, like myself, stay in the background. They have come forward big style to say 'we're not happy with this'. "Had West Ham been deducted points I wouldn't have been elated, but it's clear that this is a very serious offence. Everything they did was wrong. Had it been Wigan, Watford or a smaller club, then no question 10 points would have been deducted. "However, it's West Ham. They're a big club. They've been fined £5.5 m which is absolute peanuts because if they stay up they're going to get a minimum £35 m. It doesn't sound right suing your own league, but clubs are p****d off by this."
Despite meeting Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore on Tuesday, Whelan remains dismayed that the West Ham case was not handled by the Football Association. He added: "The FA is in charge of all rules and regulations and I asked Richard Scudamore why didn't he let the FA handle it. I think the FA would have been much tougher. They would have gone into it a lot sooner and we'd have had an answer weeks ago."
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Carlos to Sign Permanent Deal on Saturday? - West Ham Till I Die
May 2nd, 2007
What would you like for Christmas? Well, according to someone who has just posted a comment Carlos Tevez has signed a permanent deal at Upton Park and it will be formally announced on the pitch after the Bolton game. The realist in me can already see flying pigs in front of my eyes, but on the offchance it might be true I thought I'd repeat the gossip here. It's just the sort of stunt Eggie would love to pull, isn't it?! I'm now starting to convince myself… Lol
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Upton Park stay could tempt Tevez - TeamTalk
Carlos Tevez insists there is still a chance he could be a West Ham player next season, and says he has a "special relationship" with the fans. The Argentina striker is at the centre of an eligibility storm which has seen West Ham fined a record £5.5million and their relegation rivals threatening legal action. But as the Hammers attempt to thrash out a new contractual arrangement for the player, Tevez revealed his future could still be at Upton Park. "There is a possibility I could stay. It is a case of sitting down with the directors of West Ham to sort out a few things but certainly there is a chance I could stay with the club," he said. The decision, though, will not rest with the player but his part-owner Kia Joorabchian, with whom West Ham are currently in talks.
West Ham had to terminate elements of their original four-year contract with Tevez after being found guilty of agreeing to clauses which allowed a third party - Joorabchian - direct influence over the club. By satisfying the Premier League those clauses are no longer in place, Tevez was free to play in last weekend's vital 3-0 win over relegation rivals Wigan and for the remainder of the season. But for Tevez to stay at Upton Park next year the Hammers would either have to buy him outright from Joorabchian for around £20million or agree a loan deal similar to that which Liverpool have for Javier Mascherano.
Manager Alan Curbishley has refused to publicly confirm whether or not he would like to keep Tevez next season. The West Ham supporters certainly would. Tevez's form over the second half of the season breathed new life into the club's battle for survival and the fans voted him Hammer of the Year. Any agreement would be dependant on West Ham surviving a fierce relegation battle and staying in the Barclays Premiership - and that is where Tevez's focus is. West Ham must beat Bolton at Upton Park on Saturday if they are to stand any realistic hope of dragging themselves out of the relegation zone. Tevez told WHUTV: "The fine and everything surrounding it is something for West Ham and the lawyers to take care of. My only concern, as always, is playing football. "It was a very good victory (over Wigan) particularly in terms of our relegation battle. If we had lost, it would have left us virtually relegated so we are all very pleased with the result. "We will be doing everything we can to keep this club in the Premier League and for me it is an opportunity to repay the support the fans have shown me. "They have supported me from day one and I have a very special relationship with them."
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Clubs go to war with Prem - The Sun
By DAVE KIDD
May 04, 2007
FULHAM host a summit today in a bid to bring joint legal action against the Premier League over West Ham's points deduction let-off. Chairmen and chief executives of Charlton, Wigan and Sheffield United will meet lawyers at the Harrods offices of Fulham owner Mohamed Fayed this lunchtime. The relegation-threatened Hammers escaped with a £5.5million fine over the illegal contracts given to Argie duo Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano. Dave Whelan, chairman of fellow strugglers Wigan, said yesterday: "Everything they did was so wrong that had it been Wigan, Watford or a 'smaller club' it would have been a 10-point deduction. No question." All four of West Ham's relegation rivals are convinced they have an excellent case to take the league to court in a bid to reverse their controversial verdict. They will cite the cases of non-league AFC Wimbledon, deducted points this season for fielding an ineligible player, and Bury, thrown out of the FA Cup for the same offence. The four clubs are united in their belief that those precedents suggest West Ham should have lost points for the dishonesty of their former board when they signed Tevez and Mascherano prior to the takeover of new chairman Eggert Magnusson. With relegation from the Premiership estimated to cost the clubs up to £60m after a major increase in TV revenue next season, the quartet will argue that a £5.5m fine is not a fit punishment. Alan Curbishley's men won 3-0 at Wigan last Saturday to throw the survival race wide open.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Should've hammered 'em for 10 - The Sun
By DAVID FACEY
May 04, 2007
DAVE WHELAN insists West Ham should have been docked 10 points. The Wigan chairman is fuming after the Hammers were only fined for breaking Premiership rules over the signings of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano. Whelan branded the Premier League's handling of the affair as a "shambles" and claimed a smaller club would have had points deducted. He is also seething that Tevez was allowed to face the Latics in last week's vital relegation clash, which West Ham won 3-0. Whelan said: "West Ham were on fire. Any club would have been if they'd just got away with what they had got away with — blatant breaking of the rules and blatant lies. "Had it been Wigan, Watford or a smaller club it would have been a 10-point deduction. No question. "I believe football should be played on a football field. But there are rules and every club has to stay within those. "It is clear that West Ham have been way, way outside the rules."
Whelan hit out as it was revealed half-a-dozen clubs plan to challenge last week's surprise verdict. The Gang of Six — Wigan, Watford, Charlton, Fulham, Sheffield United and Middlesbrough — are those directly above and below the Hammers in the table. They want the £5.5million fine to be replaced by a 10-point deduction. That would see West Ham relegated, just when it appeared the East Enders had been handed a lifeline. Boro are the only side not really affected by drop-zone issues this term but they are seething because they were relegated 10 years ago after being docked three points for not fulfilling a fixture when they had 16 players ill or injured. They feel their offence was far less serious than the irregularities that were uncovered by the Premier League probe into the Argie deals.
Whelan added: "When you read the judge's summing up, explaining why he did not deduct points — 'the manager's done nothing wrong and the spectators don't deserve to have their club penalised with points' — you wonder where is this guy coming from? Does this judge know anything about football? "If you take into consideration fan loyalty, Liverpool could do whatever they want and never even get fined. "Everyone up to Middlesbrough, who could still theoretically go down, everybody is p****d off. It is not right what's happened. "Every club down there will support each other. The clubs will take it to a court of law, or wherever they think necessary. "It's a shame to fall out with other clubs but what must be, must be. If West Ham stay up, it is not justice — in any way, shape or form. "I speak regularly to other chairmen and I have spoken to them at length on this. The lawyers are looking at it now and if it goes to court it would mean suing the Premier League or West Ham. "To sue our own league doesn't sound right but whether to sue for damages is under consideration by half-a-dozen clubs. "We are waiting for opinions from QCs and I would expect within a week we would find out what we are going to do."
Whelan insists it is not just the clubs haunted by relegation having a moan at the verdict. He added: "I don't care who you talk to in the Premier League — they all say it is not right what has happened. There is a feeling that what has happened here has been a shambles."
Whelan met league chief executive Richard Scudamore this week — and found him in apologetic mood. The Latics supremo added: "He came to try to explain what had happened and why. He also came to say sorry that Wigan had had the problem of playing West Ham the day after the decision was given. "I thanked him for that. We were never going to win that match and that man Tevez had the best game he had had all season. "He played a blinder. Why not? They were on an up. They had got away with murder."
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The great Tevez debate - This Is London
04.05.07
Why are West Ham still playing an ineligible player?
Because Carlos Tevez never was ineligible. The Premier League did not have a problem with the Argentina striker's registration — they had a problem with the third-party agreement between West Ham and Kia Joorabchian's company, MSI.
What is the agreement?
Effectively, it means Tevez signed away his rights and put his destiny in the hands of Joorabchian, who contracted him to West Ham. It allows Joorabchian to dictate when Tevez is transferred but the Premier League say leaving West Ham should be up to the player.
What if Joorabchian wants to move Tevez to another club?
That's another problem. West Ham may not wish to transfer him. The Premier League argued that the agreement is a restraint of trade. Joorabchian maintains that his contract with West Ham is valid, but the Premier League's Independent Commission say it is unenforceable in law and set it aside. They have given a copy of the report to Joorabchian's lawyers.
So if the agreement was invalid, why were West Ham fined £5.5million?
They admitted breaching rules B13 and U18. As well as being fined, they were given two options: renegotiate the agreement to satisfy the Premier League — as Liverpool did when they signed Javier Mascherano, who arrived at West Ham under a similar agreement with Joorabchian; or tear up the agreement so that they could continue to play Tevez.
So what did they do?
They tore up the third-party agreement so that Tevez could play against Wigan.
And then what happened?
Tevez was man of the match in their 3-0 win.
No, not that. Why are people saying Tevez will not play against Bolton on Saturday?
It can be argued — and probably will be — that if West Ham no longer have a contract with the man who owns Tevez's contract, they have no right to play him.
So will Tevez play against Bolton?
Yes, unless he pulls a hamstring during a conversation with Joorabchian on Friday night.
What happens next?
West Ham want to renegotiate the Tevez deal at the end of the season, which, in their eyes, means he can play in their final two games against Bolton and Manchester United. Joorabchian wants to renegotiate it now.
So there's more to come?
It's not over till the fat lady sings, so watch this space.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
LOVELY BUBBLY - The Mirror
Striker happy to be Hammer Tevez: I adore West Ham
Darren Lewis 04/05/2007
CARLOS TEVEZ last night hinted he could stay on at West Ham beyond the summer. The striker is at the centre of a legal wrangle after the Hammers escaped a points deduction over the circumstances surrounding his signing. But West Ham are working on untangling the technicalities involving Kia Joorabchian, who owns the rights to Tevez. Should they do so then victory at home to Bolton tomorrow - which would boost Premiership safety - could see Tevez staying. He said: "I have come to love the people of West Ham and the club. I have always worked hard as a player and as a man and West Ham inspire me to continue doing this. "They have always treated me with respect and I admire them for supporting me through this. My aim is to continue working hard for them because just as they love me, I love them." The bid for Alan Curbishley's men to stay up looked ruined in April - one place off the bottom, five points adrift of safety with Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Bolton and Manchester United to play. But such has been their form that only goal difference separates them from Wigan ahead of tomorrow's game. Hammers fans are clinging to the fact that the last time the two teams met at Upton Park, West Ham took the Trotters to extra-time in an FA Cup fifth-round replay, before Marlon Harewood scored for a 2-1 win. Now Tevez, outstanding in last week's 3-0 win over Wigan, said: "I feel I have adapted to the intensity required for such games. All of my team-mates know the conditions they will face and they too have shown that they have the spirit and the technical qualities for victory. We again pray we shall not let the fans of the club down."
Lucas Neill, meanwhile, has taken inspiration from watching his beloved Australia winning the cricket World Cup and says his side must show the same mentality as they look to beat the drop.
Despite the relegation dogfight, Neill says he is one of the most relaxed players in the Hammers squad and has taken his mind off the scrap by watching Australia win the cricket. The former Blackburn defender says his side need to show the same approach that Ricky Ponting's side have shown as they battle to stay in the Premiership. Neill said: "I am a positive kind of guy and I've tried to get others to think the same way. "I can take real inspiration from my countrymen. They're winners and the way they played so well from very early on, that's the way we need to approach games. "A few of the players were a bit down, thinking there wasn't much hope. But I was saying 'come on, there's still so much to play for'. "I think 38 points would do it but, as the old cliche goes, we just have to worry about ourselves. We are on course to achieve the almost impossible."
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Tevez gets green light for Bolton - Daily Mail
Last updated at 12:20pm on 3rd May 2007
West Ham striker Carlos Tevez is clear to face Bolton on Saturday despite fears he would not be allowed to play following fresh problems with a loan contract. The Hammers, who were fined £5.5million by the Premier League for failing to reveal the full details surrounding the deal which brought Tevez and fellow Argentine Javier Mascherano to the club, were forced to amend the contract so Tevez could face Wigan last weekend. It is believed that further contractual problems could make Tevez ineligible but it is seems that there is no reason why he should not play on Saturday. A third party agreement reached with players' part-owner Kia Joorabchian has now been terminated by the Hammers, which freed Tevez to play against Wigan last weekend and for the remainder of the season. West Ham are in talks with Joorabchian over a new contractual arrangement regarding Tevez's future "beyond the end of the season". The Hammers could buy Tevez outright, which would cost them around £20million, or strike a similar loan deal that Mascherano has at Liverpool.
Any change to the status quo, any new arrangement must have met the Premier League's satisfaction for Tevez to play against Bolton. The Premier League are understood to be privately satisfied with the commission's final judgement as a whole. But if West Ham succeed in staying up, sports lawyer Mel Goldberg believes the relegated clubs could have grounds to mount a legal challenge. Goldberg said: "I do believe that, if a club goes down by a point or two, those relegated clubs would have a decent claim. "It seems part of the decision has been attributed to the fact that it is near the end of the season and they didn't want to upset the supporters."
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
WIGAN TEVEZ THREAT - The Mirror
By Alan Nixon 04/05/2007
WIGAN'S millionaire chairman Dave Whelan last night claimed West Ham "got away with murder" over Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano and pledged to fight for them to be hit with a 10-point penalty. Whelan confirmed six clubs were in talks with lawyers over possible legal action against the Premier League or the Hammers. He said: "We're p***ed off. What's happened isn't right." Relegation-haunted West Ham were fined £5.5million by the Premier League after admitting breaking rules and lying about the signings of the Argentina internationals, but avoided a points deduction. That angered Whelan, who said there could be a decision on whether to sue within the next few days. He promised financial support and will back the move even if Wigan, who are fourth bottom and only above West Ham on goal difference, manage to avoid the drop. "I think we will vote to take it to the courts, but we're waiting on the legal advice," he added.
"If West Ham stay up it's not justice. "How many points does a club get docked for going into administration? "The general view for that is 10 points, and you would look at that for West Ham."
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham cleared to play Tevez
tribalfooball.com - May 03, 2007
West Ham striker Carlos Tevez has been cleared to face Bolton Wanderers this weekend. The Daily Mail says the Hammers, who were fined £5.5million by the Premier League for failing to reveal the full details surrounding the deal which brought Tevez and fellow Argentine Javier Mascherano to the club, were forced to amend the contract so Tevez could face Wigan last weekend. It is believed that further contractual problems could make Tevez ineligible but it is seems that there is no reason why he should not play on Saturday. A third party agreement reached with players' part-owner Kia Joorabchian has now been terminated by the Hammers, which freed Tevez to play against Wigan last weekend and for the remainder of the season.
West Ham are in talks with Joorabchian over a new contractual arrangement regarding Tevez's future "beyond the end of the season". The Hammers could buy Tevez outright, which would cost them around £20million, or strike a similar loan deal that Mascherano has at Liverpool.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Upson won't invoke West Ham get-out clause
tribalfooball.com - May 03, 2007
West Ham defender Matthew Upson says he'll stay at Upton Park, even if they're relegated. he Sun says Upson, 28, was a £6million January signing from Birmingham. He has played just 41 minutes for the Hammers because of injury and has decided not to invoke the get-out clause in his contract.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
More Of Today's Football Stories - The Sun
MATTHEW UPSON has given West Ham a massive boost by agreeing to stay even if they are relegated. Central defender Upson, 28, was a £6million January signing from Birmingham.
He has played just 41 minutes for the Hammers because of injury and has decided not to invoke the get-out clause in his contract.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
TEVEZ'S WEST HAM LOVE AFFAIR - Daily Express
Carlos Tevez loves life at Upton Park
Friday May 4,2007
By Julia White for express.co.uk Have your say(0)
CARLOS Tevez has claimed he could still be playing his football at Upton Park next season. The West Ham star is at the centre of an eligibility storm which has seen West Ham fined a record £5.5million and their relegation rivals threatening legal action. But as the Hammers attempt to thrash out a new contractual arrangement for the player, Tevez revealed his future could still be at Upton Park. "There is a possibility I could stay," said the Argentinian. It is a case of sitting down with the directors of West Ham to sort out a few things but certainly there is a chance I could stay with the club," he said. The decision, though, will not rest with the player but his part-owner Kia Joorabchian, with whom West Ham are currently in talks. West Ham had to terminate elements of their original four-year contract with Tevez after being found guilty of agreeing to clauses which allowed a third party - Joorabchian - direct influence over the club.
By satisfying the Premier League those clauses are no longer in place, Tevez was free to play in last weekend's vital 3-0 win over relegation rivals Wigan and for the remainder of the season.
But for Tevez to stay at Upton Park next year the Hammers would either have to buy him outright from Joorabchian for around £20million or agree a loan deal similar to that which Liverpool have for Javier Mascherano. Manager Alan Curbishley has refused to publicly confirm whether or not he would like to keep Tevez next season. The West Ham supporters certainly would. Tevez's form over the second half of the season breathed new life into the club's battle for survival and the fans voted him Hammer of the Year.
Any agreement would be dependant on West Ham surviving a fierce relegation battle and staying in the Barclays Premiership - and that is where Tevez's focus is. West Ham must beat Bolton at Upton Park tomorrow if they are to stand any realistic hope of dragging themselves out of the relegation zone. Tevez told WHUTV: "The fine and everything surrounding it is something for West Ham and the lawyers to take care of. My only concern, as always, is playing football. "It was a very good victory (over Wigan) particularly in terms of our relegation battle. If we had lost, it would have left us virtually relegated so we are all very pleased with the result. "We will be doing everything we can to keep this club in the Premier League and for me it is an opportunity to repay the support the fans have shown me. "They have supported me from day one and I have a very special relationship with them."
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Six clubs are ready to sue League, says angry Whelan
Neil Johnson
Friday May 4, 2007
The Guardian
Wigan Athletic's owner, Dave Whelan, last night claimed that six clubs were considering suing the Premier League for failing to deduct points from West Ham United over the Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano transfer dispute.
An independent panel ruled last Friday that players and fans were not to blame for the dispute, which centred on the third-party ownership of the two players, and a loss of points would have "consigned the club to certain relegation". Instead West Ham were fined £5.5m, but Whelan believes the east London club "got away with murder" and has promised to support any legal action against the club or the Premier League.
"There's six clubs involved and I know there are three at present receiving legal advice," said Whelan, whose club is in a fight with West Ham for Premiership survival. "You have owners involved as well as chairmen," he added. "You have the likes of Middlesbrough, the likes of Fulham where the owners, like myself, stay in the background. They have come forward big-style to say 'we're not happy with this'."
Whelan then launched a wide-ranging attack on the Premier League, saying none of the other clubs near the bottom of the table would have been treated as leniently as West Ham: "There's a general feeling through the Premier League that what has happened here has been shambolic. The Premier League is in shambles. Had West Ham been deducted points I wouldn't have been elated, but it's clear that this is a very serious offence.
"There was a blatant breaking of the rules and blatant lies. Had it been Wigan, Watford or a smaller club then no question 10 points would have been deducted. However, it's West Ham. They're a big club. They've been fined £5.5m which is absolute peanuts because if they stay up they're going to get a minimum £35m."
Whelan also intimated that West Ham themselves could be the target of legal action by the clubs. "There are a number of clubs getting advice from legal people," he said. "If there is a case I think the clubs will vote to take it to the court of law or take it wherever they think is necessary, and I will support them on that. It's a shame to fall out with other football clubs. But if West Ham manage to stay up it's not justice in any shape or form."
Whelan has told Richard Scudamore, the Premier League's chief executive, that the Football Association should have handled the hearing. "The FA is in charge of all rules and regulations and I asked Richard Scudamore why didn't he let the FA handle it? He thought it was a matter for the Premier League. I think the FA would have been much tougher. They would have gone into it a lot sooner and we'd have had an answer weeks and weeks ago."
Wigan's lawyers are also looking into just how quickly Tevez's contract was changed - with the third-party issue removed - allowing him to face the Latics in West Ham's comfortable 3-0 win last weekend. "If that proves to be illegal, then we've a strong case to get the three points back we lost because that lad was very influential in that game," Whelan said.
"Good luck to West Ham because they've got away with it, but I hope in the end that justice prevails and they go down."
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham fine prompts rivals to take legal advice - The Times
James Ducker
Dave Whelan, the Wigan Athletic chairman, branded the FA Premier League "a shambles" yesterday and said that several clubs are considering taking legal action against the organisation and West Ham United after the furore surrounding the signings of Carlos Tévez and Javier Mascherano.
Whelan claims that three Barclays Premiership clubs have instructed lawyers to look into the findings of an independent panel that fined West Ham £5.5 million last week after finding them guilty of two charges of irregularities over the transfers of Tévez and Mascherano, the Argentina players, last summer.
Whelan believes that West Ham should have been deducted ten points, but while he has decided not to seek legal advice personally, the Wigan owner-chairman has vowed to support any proceedings should they materialise. Fulham and Mid-dlesbrough are thought to be two of the clubs leading the threat to sue.
Tévez was instrumental in the club's 3-0 victory away to Wigan on Saturday after receiving clearance to play. The win drew West Ham level with
Wigan on 35 points, although the London club occupy a relegation place by virtue of their inferior goal difference.
"There are six clubs involved and I know three at present are receiving legal advice," Whelan said. "If there is a case, I think the clubs will vote to take it to court or wherever they think is necessary and I will support them. Had it been a smaller club, ten points would have been deducted. However, it's West Ham. They've been fined £5.5 million, which is absolute peanuts because if they stay up they're going to get a minimum £35 million."
A spokesman for the Premier League said: "We will await to see any legal position proffered."
In another twist, Terence Brown, the former West Ham chairman, is consulting his lawyers after the club terminated a contract worth £600,000 a month that he signed after he sold the club to Eggert Magnús-son. As an honorary vice-presi-dent, Brown was also allowed privileges such as seats in the directors' box, but they have been taken away. He feels it is because the club hold him responsible for the transfer fiasco and West Ham are indeed considering legal action against Brown and the old Upton Park regime.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Whelan launches legal war over Hammers - This Is London
03.05.07
The Premier League are facing joint legal action by six of their clubs following the decision not to deduct points from West Ham over the signings of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano.
Furious Wigan chairman Dave Whelan yesterday revealed his club plus Sheffield United, Watford, Charlton, Fulham and Middlesbrough have formed an alliance and enlisted three QCs in an attempt to have the Hammers kicked out of the Premiership. They will take legal advice and share costs in a bid to overturn the Premier League ruling last week to merely fine West Ham £5.5million. They will also push for a 10-point deduction. Whelan accused the London club of "blatant lies" by withholding documentation proving the two Argentina players were part-owned by Kia Joorabchian's Media Sports Investment company, and branded the Premier League "a shambles".
He warned that the six clubs, who with West Ham fill the bottom seven places, will decide by the end of the month whether to sue West Ham or the Premier League, despite chief executive Richard Scudamore's attempts to talk them out of it this week. Whelan said: "Every club down there will support each other and if there is a case I think we will vote to take it to court. I know three clubs have appointed QCs and are receiving advice. "It's a gentlemen's agreement. We've spoken to each other and agreed to support it. We will all pay a fair and equal cost — even the ones who stay up.
"West Ham have been fined £5.5m but if they stay up they're going to get a minimum of £35m. We're not happy with that and I don't think any club is. The Premier League is a shambles. If West Ham stay up it's not justice." Whelan hit out at the reasons the Premier League panel gave for the verdict on Friday. "Bury had a player who shouldn't have played and they got thrown out of the FA Cup. Harsh but fair. You can't play players who aren't signed properly. "The general feeling is that if West Ham were docked three points they would have gone down. But I wasn't looking for three points, I was looking for 10 plus a fine. "That's how many points a club get for going into administration. When you read the judge's summing up and why he didn't deduct points, he said the manager had done nothing wrong. That has nothing to do with it. "He said the supporters don't deserve for their club to be penalised with points. If they take loyalty of fans into consideration, Liverpool can do what they want and not even get fined. "Where's this guy coming from? Does he know anything about football? The rules are absolutely clear."
To add insult to injury for Whelan, Tevez was re-registered in time to play for West Ham in a 3-0 win over Wigan on Saturday, increasing the threat of relegation for his side. "Tevez has been playing illegally all season and they change all kinds of rules to allow him to play," he claimed. "West Ham were on fire and any club would have been having got away with what they did. We were never going to win. Tevez had his best game of the season."
Sheffield United had already taken legal advice before Whelan's call to arms. Plc chairman Kevin McCabe said: "The Premier League decision was not in the natural course of justice and it did not consider the implications for the other clubs. "We've been proactive in protecting our position and we'll be attending a meeting in London with the other clubs."
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers book their final place - Newham Recorder
03 May 2007
Essex Girls League
Redbridge 0 West Ham United 2
STRIKES from Leah Wilson and Morgan Mitchell saw West Ham United book their place in the under-11s Plate Final where they will face Senrab, who are the only side to beat the Hammers at junior level this season. However, this was no formality as Dave Smith's much-improved Redbridge side made their local rivals battle right until the bitter end. It was Wilson who put the Hammers into a first half lead but the expected onslaught of goals simply never came. Earlier this season, the Hammers destroyed them 5-0 and had won all three previous meetings, but the Redbridge girls showed just how far they had come this season with some determined defending and some superb attacking and passing play. With Redbridge launching many second half counter attacks, this was a game where one goal was simply never going to be enough. It took a very special effort from Morgan Mitchell for the Hammers to finally kill off any threats and send the Hammers through to the final.
West Ham: Miles, Mitchell, Sillitoe, Sorenson, Wilson, Sawyer, Watkins, Hackshaw, Davis, Swords.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
EXPOSED: HOW HAMMERS ESCAPED - Daily Express
Thursday May 3,2007
By Harry Harris Have your say(0)
THE official report into West Ham's fielding of ineligible players found the club's "crimes" were so serious they merited a points deduction. The Premier League Commission last week sparked fury among the Hammers' relegation rivals when they fined the club a record £5.5million but preserved their precious points. The report's full findings give seven reasons why the commission opted not to dock points – and those clubs who may suffer are now studying the legal implications. Whoever finishes below West Ham will scrutinise the judgment before deciding whether to bring a case for compensation. Such are the concerns of Fulham, Wigan, Charlton and Sheffield United, plus Middlesbrough, who were docked three points and relegated in 1997 for what they consider a less serious offence, that Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore is busy trying to avert a new and even bigger crisis. None of those clubs is impressed with West Ham's punishment and any one, or several, could take action. The Daily Express has seen the 'secret seven' reasons for not docking points and can pinpoint how lawyers will find flaws in each. The commission's findings state: "We have taken into account and given West Ham credit for the pleas of guilty and we have taken into account their hitherto exemplary disciplinary record. "We are of the view these are exceedingly serious allegations because they amount to not only an obvious and deliberate breach of the rules, but a grave breach of trust as to the FAPL and its constituent members, because in our finding the club has been responsible for dishonesty and deceit. "The rules of the FAPL allow us to penalise a club by deducting points. That is a course that we consider would normally follow from such a breach of these rules."
So why did West Ham escape? Why did the commission decide docking points would "not be proportionate punishment"?
Here are their official reasons – with my own reaction on behalf of West Ham's relegation rivals noted in brackets.
● "The club's pleas of guilty." (Opposition: This smacks of plea bargaining as the club's publicly stated stance was that they would prove they had not broken the rules).
● "The club are under new ownership and management. True, [chief executive] Scott Duxbury remains, but we are impressed by [West Ham QC] Jim Sturman's point that Eggert Magnusson could have cynically dispensed with his services so as to reflect more favourably upon the club." (Opposition: West Ham's "defence" that Scott Duxbury was responsible under the old Terence Brown regime, while remaining under the new owners, is one of the weakest excuses).
● "Had the club made disclosure of the third-party contracts to the FAPL, then contracts could have been entered into which would not have offended the rules." (Opposition: So much for worrying about third-party ownership – so long as it is covered up neatly).
● "There has been a delay between the discovery of these breaches and these proceedings."While that delay is no party's fault, the consequence is that a points deduction, say in January, while unwelcome, would have been somewhat easier to bear than a points deduction today which would have consigned the club to certain relegation." (Opposition: The punishment should fit the crime – except here, when timing makes it inconvenient).
● "Carlos Tevez has continued to play for the club after the discovery of these breaches. The FAPL had the power to have then terminated his registration. For understandable reasons, they did not. Had it not been for these proceedings, the club and the FAPL might have reached a similar situation to that pertaining to Liverpool and Javier Mascherano." (Opposition: This answers nothing. If Tevez was ineligible, why was he allowed to play on?).
● "We have considered the position of the players and the fans. They are in no way to blame for this situation. Of course, if the impact upon players and fans was to be the overriding consideration, there may never be a deduction of points. However, in this case, the fans and the players have been fighting against relegation ... those efforts and that loyalty would be to no avail were we to now deduct points." (Opposition: The most erroneous argument of all).
● "It was [finance director] Nick Igoe, thus the club, then under new ownership, who brought attention to these breaches." (Opposition: Why didn't the finance director cough up earlier?). And that's it. In my view, these secret reasons are there to be shot down. Not even Enid Blyton, author of the original Secret Seven, could make this up.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
FAYED MAY SUE OVER HAMMERS - The Mirror
By Neil McLeman 03/05/2007
MOHAMED Al Fayed has instructed his lawyers to investigate the Premier League's decision not to dock West Ham points for fielding ineligible players this season. The Fulham chairman is renowned for spending millions in court costs when he feels a matter of principle is at stake. And now the owner of Harrods wants last week's judgement by an independent inquiry picked apart after relegation rivals West Ham were only fined £5.5million for playing Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano. The Premier League confirmed yesterday that Tevez, who will receive the fans' award for Player of the Season on Saturday, is eligible to play in West Ham's final two fixtures.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment