Morgan rejects claims

Skipper dismisses talk of compensation claims

Last updated: 29th September 2008

Morgan rejects claims

Morgan: No plans to sue

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Sheffield United captain Chris Morgan has denied the club's players have met to discuss the possibility of launching individual claims against West Ham.

An independent arbitration panel earlier this week ruled in favour of Sheffield United in their claim for compensation from West Ham over the Carlos Tevez affair.

The panel have yet to determine the size of the payout, but the Blades are claiming in excess of £30million from the London club after being relegated from the Premier League on the final day of the 2006-7 season, when a Tevez-inspired Hammers side beat Manchester United to clinch top-flight safety.

The Premier League fined West Ham a record £5.5million for fielding Tevez and Javier Mascherano when they were ineligible to play under league rules regarding third-party ownership.

And it has since been reported that the Blades' players are considering their own additional legal action against the Londoners, which could amount to further millions of pounds, for lost bonuses and reduced wages.

However, Morgan, speaking after the weekend win over Watford, says he is in the dark over the reports.

"Where it's come from I've no idea," said Morgan.

"There's been no meeting that I'm aware of that's taken place with any players this week.

"We've been thinking about the Watford game, not what's going on.

"We've always said as players we can't get involved in what goes on at that side, that's down to the chairman and chief executive and people like that.

"That's their job. We're employed by this football club to play football, not to set meetings up talkng about money and things like that.

"I think if there is anything there the chairman will pull the players and say, 'Listen, this is what's happening', but no, as far as I'm aware there's been nothing.

Not thought about it

"We've not even thought about it. It's something that has never cropped up. It's never been thrown about.

"On Tuesday morning when we got up for the Arsenal game it was on the breaking news that the club had won the arbitration and things like that.

"But we have nothing to do with that. We've never got involved in it. Obviously people ask us questions about it and we've got to try to answer as openly as we can. But we don't get involved in that."

West Ham have confirmed they will appeal against the tribunal's ruling to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The Hammers argue they have already been punished for breaching Premier League rules, but their hopes of avoiding a huge payout were dealt a blow when CAS secretary general Matthieu Reeb admitted their appeal may not even be heard.

Reeb said: "As things stand, CAS would not be able to hear this case.

"We would need agreement from Sheffield United and for Football Association rules to allow an appeal to CAS."