More clubs to challenge Hammers' escape?

Updated 14.11 Mon May 14 2007

Keywords: Fulham, West Ham United, Sheffield United, Wigan Athletic, Premiership, sport, Charlton Athletic

West Ham United's Premiership relegation escape could be challenged by more clubs than the so-called 'Gang of Four'.

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan has claimed that Middlesbrough have joined the Latics, Sheffield United, Charlton Athletic and Fulham in their fight against the decision to hit the Hammers with a record £5.5 million fine rather than a points' deduction over the signings of Argentina duo Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano.

"Charlton, Sheff United, Wigan, Fulham and Middlesbrough are all determined that we should get justice and West Ham should have been deducted points.

Whelan is vowing to fight the ruling, despite Wigan ensuring their top-flight status with a 2-1 win at Bramall Lane which sent Sheffield United straight back down to the Championship on goal difference after Tevez fired the Hammers to a 1-0 win at champions Manchester United.

The Latics chief said: "Charlton, Sheff United, Wigan, Fulham and Middlesbrough are all determined that we should get justice and West Ham should have been deducted points.

"It has to be done quickly because the longer this goes on the less likelihood of the league reviewing it at all. We are going to fight and support them and we will fight with them to the end."

With promotion to the Premiership said to be worth around £60 million, Sheffield United, like Watford and Charlton, are set to miss out on a bumper cash windfall next season, although each relegated club will receive 'parachute payments'.

Reports claim that two more clubs could be ready to join forces with the aggrieved clubs and Blades plc chairman Kevin McCabe believes the groundswell of opinion is behind them.

McCabe said: "I think most of the Premier League clubs and other football clubs support us over this injustice that has come about this season.

"Four years ago the Blades had just lost in the (Championship) play-off final and I felt gutted. This time I feel cheated.

"I think there is a consensus most clubs support an injustice so I hope we will get the vast majority of clubs in the Premier League supporting our case."

Wigan chief executive Brenda Spencer is calling on the Premier League, whose independent commission arrived at West Ham's financial penalty, to end the argument once and for all.

Spencer said: "We just want justice and we want the Premier League to prove Tevez was eligible to play."