Scudamore summons Wigan chairman for talks

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

Scudamore phoned Whelan today in response to an email from the Wigan chairman saying 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 over West Ham, but Scudamore told Whelan he had got the wrong end of the stick.

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.

"As such Mr Whelan has agreed to submit his remaining questions of the board in full and in writing. The board will respond in due course."

The row is over an independent commission's decision to fine West Ham £5.5m (€8m) 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. It is understood that Caborn has been approached by both sides and advised them to try to find a solution that does not involve a judge's ruling.

Caborn told PA Sport: "What I had said is that all parties need to make every endeavour to make sure this is settled outside of the courts."