Compensation Puts Off Potential Buyers

The Observer claim that an English-led group are thinking of buying West Ham for £100m. The group intends to provide manager Gianfranco Zola with a "serious" ­transfer fund of £30m, while rolling over club debts now approaching £50m. However, with the cost of paying off ­Sheffield United set to take up a quarter of the total investment, sources close to the potential buyers are not confident they will complete the deal.

West Ham say they do not expect the club to change hands until the summer and that the Sheffield United settlement is for £15m over five years, with an ­additional bond of £5m to be met by any new owner.


The News of the World claim that Kevin McCabe has been in contact with one of West Ham's potential buyers but doesn't say why. Presumably it would be to talk about how the new owners would want to stage the compensation payments. The News of the World say a bond has also been lodged, which means West Ham will pay out a sum to Sheffield United on a sliding scale between £5 and £10m when the club is sold.


The Sunday Mirror claim West Ham have been given until the end of the week to settle a £3.5m compensation claim by Sheffield United players. Lawyers, acting on behalf of the 18 Sheffield United players demanding compensation for lost earnings, have told West Ham that they have until Friday to settle the matter or face another High Court battle.