Scudamore in talks with Wigan boss Whelan

PREMIER LEAGUE chief executive Richard Scudamore has held talks with Wigan chairman Dave Whelan after the sportswear supremo called on him to resign over the Carlos Tevez affair.

Scudamore phoned Whelan yesterday in response to an email from the Wigan chairman saying that he and Premier League chairman Dave Richards should consider resigning “over a dereliction of duty”.

The personal nature of the attack marked a new development in the row. A Premier League spokesman said: “The Premier League board and Mr Whelan have spoken today and both parties have agreed to continue their discussions in a manner more appropriate to League business.

The row is over an independent commission’s decision to fine West Ham United £5.5 million (€8.04m) rather than dock the club points for signing third-party agreements in contravention of league rules.

In the email to Scudamore and all the other top-flight clubs, Whelan stated: “You had been ordered by the chairman of the commission to seriously consider the termination of this contract.

“Your failure to do so in my mind is a dereliction of the duties of both the chairman and yourself and the pair of you should consider resigning.”

It is understood Scudamore told Whelan that the commission had not ordered them to consider terminating Tevez’s registration, but stated the league had the power to do so if they felt the third-party agreements had not been ended. The league however were satisfied that West Ham did end those agreements on April 27.

Scudamore and the league’s lawyers are still discussing how to respond to Sheffield United’s claim for the dispute to go an arbitration panel.

Meanwhile, sports minister Richard Caborn has reiterated his call for all parties to settle the row out of court.