clutching at straws methinks

http://www.barnsleytoday.co.uk/football?articleid=2876649</p><div class="headline" id="ds-headline"><h1><font size="2">McCabe: 'Make the Premier 21 clubs'</font></h1></div>

By les payne</p><div class="ds-firstpara" id="ds-firstpara">SHEFFIELD United plc chairman Kevin McCabe wants the Premier League to look at the possibility of reinstating the Blades into the Premiership.</div><div class="va-bodytext" id="va-bodytext">&quot;It is certainly a possibility,&quot; he said as support mounted for United's cause among other clubs in the wake of the West Ham Carlos Tevez affair.

&quot;Why can't the Premier League be extended for one season to 21 clubs?&quot; he asked.

&quot;That is certainly something they should put to us rather than us to them.

&quot;This is very much an exceptional case whereby a club has been wronged and it should be put right.

&quot;The Premier League Board have to stand up and be counted and admit there have been mistakes here in various ways, mistakes that are affecting one club that does not deserve to be relegated.

&quot;It's an opportunity for them to contact Sheffield United and make up the wrong.&quot;

McCabe said they had received &quot;verbal support&quot; from other clubs who believe a &quot;major wrong&quot; has been committed and that West Ham should have had points deducted.

&quot;I think most of the Premier League clubs and other football clubs support us over this injustice that has come about this season,&quot; he said.

&quot;Four years ago we lost in the (Championship) Play-off Final and I felt gutted. This time I feel cheated.

&quot;One club among 20 has fielded ineligible players this season. One club remains in the Premiership who should not be in it.

&quot;They have a &pound;50 million bonus next season whereas we have suffered probably a &pound;50m loss if relegation is confirmed,&quot; he added.

The United chief also backed up the concern of Wigan chairman Dave Whelan over the re-registering of Tevez after the initial punishment by the Premier League's independent tribunal of a &pound;5.5 million fine.

&quot;That concerns us and our lawyers will be looking at that,&quot; he said. &quot;That is one of the issues, and there has been no legal evidence presented so far to clubs to satisfy us that the previous contract (with Tevez) was legally terminated. That is a big issue.

He called on the Premier League to show the legal evidence, to clubs, that the contract was terminated.

&quot;I will do everything I can to protect the interests of Sheffield United Football Club, and I owe that to the fans, the directors, the players, the management and all who work for this great club of ours,&quot; he added.

&quot;We played and abided by the rules but we have been wronged by the actions of off-field events elsewhere.

&quot;One club has not played by the rules and they now prosper while we suffer emotionally and financially.&quot;

Backing for the so-called 'Gang of Four' - United, Wigan, Fulham and Charlton - appears to be growing. Middlesbrough are the latest to show support.

The Premier League say they will contact all 20 top-flight clubs today with a detailed explanation about the issue.</div><div class="ds-modifieddate">Last Updated: 15 May 2007</div>

 

no real sympathy for the blades but west ham have cheated , the question is was a fine correct punishment.

 

This is garbage. The issue is about West Hams indiscretion and whether points should be deducted not whether Sheff Utd have a right to play in the Premiership as a wild card. I think if the chairman carries on this route they will quickly lose support for the case.

 

Heard it on radio this morning

"Why can't the Premier League be extended for one season to 21 clubs?"
Numerous reasons….the fixture list would be a nightmare, each week a club having to have an off-week, extended to 40 games a season for teams, the implications on the Championship, I suppose that means we'd be a team short therefore loss of revenue to smaller clubs. Would the clubs in the Premier League then be happy with 4 being relegated next season? Probably not so they'd end up having 3 down and 2 up more than likely.

Let Sheff Utd continue like this and focus their energies elsewhere rather than on preparing for life in the Championship.

 

like I said yesterday

they need to focus on the points gained while Tevez was owned by a 3rd party-8 points by my calcs-however if you join a club you sign up to the rules-a leading sports lawyer yesterday said they had no chance-a points deduction has never been mandatory and the tribunal was conducted properly

 

RE:That's pretty much my view as well

West Ham have clearly breached regulations but they have been "tried" by an independant tribunal and punished accordingly. Can't see that verdict being overturned myself.

However, no doubt everyone's views would be different if they were the aggrieved party ie Sheff Utd

As a side issue, I hope Colin is still manager at the Blades when they visit Ninian next year as I sit about 15yds from him and revel in giving him dogs abuse every time he gets up from the dugout - and he doesn't like it one bit I can tell you!

 

They know they aint going back for a while ,

so the best chance they have of getting to Premier League is to try the legal route.</p>

</p>

 

RE:That's pretty much my view as well

on his way http://www.barnsleytoday.co.uk/football?articleid=2876807</p>

can't see any point in him staying-if Blunts fans were honest they'd have to agree that his tactics last season were what got them relegated-8 goals away from home due to his obsession with 1 up front and playing for damage limitation-didn't work-lost 14 from 19 away-worst in the division</p>

 

or, they may be offered 10 mill so to keep them quiet - softent he blow as it were

 

Ridiculous!!

<font size="2">This isn't about Sheffield United going down - it's about West Ham staying up after they fielded illegal players. </font></p>

<font size="2">Nobody actually cares particularly that it is Sheffield United that caught the rough end of this situation - it could have been any club. The principle is about dealing with West Ham properly. The only way Sheffield United could be reinstated is if West Ham were relegated as disciplinary measure. We know that is not going to happen. Bitching and moaning for an extra place is just breath takingly desperate. It is like a small child whinging to mum 'Oh but why?'.</font></p>

<font color="#cc0000" size="5">SHEFFIELD UNITED - YOU ARE DOWN!! GET ON WITH IT!!</font></p>

<font color="#000000" size="2">It is embarressing to see a club doing what Sheffield United are now doing - no pride, just squirming desperately. They have two options - they either go to court, or they don't. Show some fecking dignity and make a decision and get on with it. I have lost any sympathy for United now, because, at the end of the end of the day, they've shown their hand now - it's notat all about 'the rules' or 'honesty' or 'sportmanship' - it's about Sheffield United making what they can for Sheffield United, and I haven't got any time at all for that. They mightas well have come out and said to the PremierLeague 'Ok, reinstate us, do nothing to West Ham, and we'llsay no more about it' (wink wink). I hope they go to court and lose.</font></p>

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