Blades Consider Lodging High Court Appeal

Sheffield United are considering continuing their legal battle against the Premier League through a possible high court appeal. Sir Philip Otton's arbitration panel found on Tuesday that it could not overturn the decision of an independent disciplinary commission not to deduct points from West Ham over the third-party registration of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano, but last night it was revealed that United are planning to challenge that verdict in the civil courts.

United, mindful that their application to lodge an appeal could be rejected, hoped to keep their latest move quiet but the Premier League announced yesterday that the Bramall Lane club were taking further action.

A Premier League spokesman said: "Our legal team inform us that this is a very narrow window of appeal where Sheffield United are claiming that the arbitration panel under Sir Philip Otton made an error in law by failing to send back the original decision to the independent disciplinary commission for reconsideration."

United dismissed claims than a high court appeal had already been lodged, although that will undoubtedly be the club's next move should their application prove successful.

United felt the first material affects of the arbitration panel's ruling yesterday, with Phil Jagielka joining Everton for £4m. The defender has agreed a five-year contract, and Everton's Scottish international full-back Gary Naysmith is set to move in the other direction by joining the Blades, who are also interested in Celtic's Thomas Gravesen. Aston Villa are expected to confirm their first signing of the summer today, with Nigel Reo-Coker poised to join the club for about £9m. His arrival is likely to lead to Steven Davis joining Fulham.